History  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ 
of  California, 
for  a  Period  of 
Thirty  Years 

Together  with  an  Article 

on 

The  Chinese  Question 


tihvavy  of  t:be  Cheolcjical  Seminar  jp 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


PRESENTED  BY 

Rufus  H.  LeFevre 


'AN  'asfisr^-^S 

•3ui  soaa  ay  jiavo 

Aq  p&ir.iooi  luovv 

INnOWOlOHd 


OF  California, 


FOR  A  PERIOD  OF  THIRTY  YEARS. 


Together  with  an  Article 


The  Chinese  Question 


BY 
Editor  of  the  ^'■Pacific  Teleacopey 


SACRAMENTO: 

Vallkv  Prkss  Book  and  Job   Printi.vi;   Office. 

1S79. 


^oV)e4Phi/,p 


SEALS.  ST£/\/C/LS,£tc, 
Jf^Qf?AVlf/^^J£WELRY, 


TleExaDllieiiiatllcMellioiofCiire 

nown 


Also  known  as  Baunscheidtism. 


^hed 


States 


A  Certain  Cure  for  all  Diseases. 

In  diseases  of  recent  origin,  as  veil  as  in 
chronic  alTectious,  viiich  liave  defied  ;ill  salves. 
niedican)ents  &  treatment,  tliis  niethoil  of  cure 
may  l)e  confidently  resorted  toas  the  last  ancho: 
of  salvation.  Thousands  of  invalids  whom  the 
doctors  had  jriven  up  as  hopeless,  have  saved 
their  lives  and  heen  restored  to  full  health  by 
means  of  this  treatment.  I 

An  acRount  of  the  wond^.'ful  cures  which  have| 
been  brought  about  by  this  treatment,  as  also 
tlie  necessary  instructions  for  self-treatment  fur 
all  diseases,  is  contained  in  my  book  of  instrucl 
tion,  or  .'ManinU,  11th  edition,  a.50  paces. 

For  an  Instrument,  the  Resuscitator  with  glided 

Needles,  and  hottle  of  Oleum,  of  the  very  best 
I  quality,  and  a  Kook  of  Instruction,  Htli  edition 
;     with  Appendix  coneernin^r  the  eye  and  the  ear,; 

their  diseases  and  treatment  hv  the  Kxanthe-j 

!     matic  Method  of  Cure,  ..."-.-     (ts.oOl 

Free  by  mail.    -    -    -    -    ^.S-'itl 

.\  single  hottle  ot  Oleum,  free  by  mail,      !sil.7.'J| 

H.y  e.Kjiress  (not  h-ec)  -    -  91.50| 

A  Manual  without  Instrument  &  Oleum,  i 

free  by  mail,    ,    -    -    -    -S'i.vja! 

fpf^To  prnlrrt  yoiirselj  ai/diiist  (lriii;i<TOiiK  ii)ii-\ 
tdtioiin,  he  miif  that  tin-  dhtfr  '/'rcitle  Murk  is\ 
ailiXfit  tixiirit  nntlli'. 

A  small  Manual,  containing  valuable  Information 
and  recent  Testimonials,  will  be  sent  to  any  address 
postpaid. 

JOHN  LINDEN, 

!  Special  Practitioner  of  the  Exanthematic 

I  Method  ot  Cure, 

Oltlceand  Hesidence,  411  Prospect  St. 

Letter  Box  271.  CLEVELAND,  OHIO 


F^HEFA-CE 


We  had  contemplated  publisbing  a  book  about  two  years  ago,  enti- 
tled "Twenty-two  Months  an  Itinerant  in  California."  Our  visit  to  the 
home  of  our" childhood  in  Ohio  at  that  time  prevented  the  publication  of 
the  book,  but  very  much  of  the  statistics  and  numerous  items  intended- 
for  it  have  entered  the  history,  and  will  no  doubt  serve  a  better  purpose- 
here  than  in  the  contemplated  book. 

The  map  that  we  intended  to  publish  would  have  cost  too  much  to 
have  justified  us  in  making  the  financial  sacrifice  unless  the  subscribers' 
list  would  have  reached  the  number  we  called  for  when  the  announce- 
ment was  made. 

The  death  of  Rev.  S.  1).  Ensley  does  not  appear  in  the  history.  It 
was  overlooked  at  the  time  for  which  we  are  sorry.  His  dciith  is  noticed 
in  the  minutes  of  1868  as  "having  died  during  the  last  year."  The  reso- 
lution speaks  of  him  in  the  highest  terms,  and  ofiers  words  of  sympathy 
to  his  bereaved  family. 

We  are  very  thankful  to  those  wlio  furnished  us  with  items  of  inter- 
est for  the  volume  now  completed.  Among  the  many  who  helped  us  are 
nearly  all  of  the  preachers  now  in  the  Conference.  Rev.  C.  W.  Gillett 
and  wife  will  accept  thanks  for  the  Journals  of  Sloane  and  for  their 
excellent  Journal.  Rev.  Philemon  Beck,  also,  for  the  early  ofiicial  rec- 
ords of  the  work  in  Yolo  County.  Rev.  D.  K.  FHckinger  is  remembered 
for  the  indispensable  help  he  gave  us  in  the  line  of  statistics  and  of 
engravings.  We  also  thank  Rev.  G.  \V.  Burtner  for  his  very  personal 
kindness  to  us  in  cases  of  extreme  labors  that  were  made  lighter  by  his 
willing  help. 

The  article  on  the  Chinese  Question  contained  in  the  appendix  is 
the  result  of  close  observation  for  several  years.  It  is  well  for  us  to  con- 
sider that  there  are  matters  connected  with  the  disposal  of  the  Asiatics 
among  us  that  will  involve  questions  of  a  kindred  character  too  moment- 
ous for  present  undertaking.  A  question  so  completely  interwoven  with 
the  very  principles  of  our  national  existence  and  the  sjihere  of  our  use- 
fulness in  the  providence  of  God  needs  calmer  thought  than  is  fostered 
by  an  incited  mob  or  an  antipathetical  politician  urged  on  bv  his  con- 
stituents. 

The  writer  speaks  fearlessly  and  insists  upon  a  fair  and  candid  hear- 
ing. No  vile  invectives  against  these  statements  are  needed.  Let  the 
matter  be  weighed  at  the  tribunal  of  justice  to  all  men,  and  the  results 
need  not  be  feared. 

H.  J.  BECKER, 
Eureka,  California,  :N'ovember  16th,  1879. 


coisrTEisrTS. 


en  AFTER    I. 

Spies  to  the  Promised  Land  [Qdifornia  in  Contrast.) — California  the  inex- 
haustible Cornucopia  of  the  Commercial  World. — A  Few  Articles  Named. — 
Some  Statistics. — A  View  at  the  Scenery. —  The  Area. — Stockton  a  Model 
City. —  Calianta  Fornalla  and  Health  State. —  The  Church  and  the  Lodge. — 
Frank  Page  and  the  Mexican  Grants. — Heavy  Taxation. —  The  United 
Brethren  in  Christ  cast  their  Lot  here. 

CHAPTER   II. 

Me.rican  31issions  in  California  in  1769. — Eighteen  Thousand  Domesticated 
Indians  in  1831. —  The  Report  of  Gold  in  1848. —  United  Brethren  in 
California. — Father  Thompson  the  First  '4:9er. —  The  Harrow  Brothers — 
John  W.  and  James — and  C.  W.  Gillett  among  the  '49er5. — Rev.  J. 
Ackerson  and  B.  B.  Allen  arrive  in  1850. — John  Bright. —  The  Oregon 
Work. — J.  H.  31ayfield. —  U.  B.  Families  Settling  in  the  Serriiory. — 
Foreign  and  Home  Missions  Established. — Rev.  Israel  Sloane  opens  Cali- 
fornia 3Iission  in  1858. — Poetry  by  Sloane. — Remarks  in  General. 

CHAPTER  III. 
Eec.  I).  K.  Flickinger,  the  Successor  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Bright. —  Opening  of  the 
Oilifornia  Mission. —  The  first  United  Brethren  Class. — Organization  of 
the  first  Annual  Conference. — It  is  recognized,  by  the  General  Conference 
of  1861. — Death  of  Sister  Sloane. — '-'■Home  is  sad  without  a  Mother.^' — 
Mr.  S.  goes  Fast. — His  Return. — Humboldt  District. — Sloane's  Last 
Missionary  Journey. — He  Dies  on  the  Field. — His  Mantle  still  among 
Us. — Memoirs  and  Biography.  —  What  Now  f 

CHAPTER    lY. 

The  Work  at  Humboldt. — Tribute  to  the  Laity. — Arrival  of  Bishop  Shuck. — 
His  Address. — '■'' Informalities.'' — Annual  Conference  of  1864. — Obitu- 
ary of  Sloane. — Religious  Paper  Contemplated. — Branch  Missionary 
Society  Organized. —  Tht  Outlook  of  '64. 

CHAPTER    V. 

Privations  and  DisajypointineR.ts. —  Wolves  in  Slieep's  Clothing. — J.  H.  May- 
field,  the  Revivaiist. — His  Case  Reviewed. —  The  Conference  of  1865. — 
McAllister  steps  down  and  out. — Bishop  D.  Shuck's  Excessive  Labors. — 
The  Mission  Fields. —  7^  he  Conference  of  1866-7. — John  Dollar  hide 
withdraws  from  the  Church. —  The  Sabbath. —  I'he  Conference  of  1868. — 
Shuck  goes  East. — Statistics. — Bishop  Weaver  and  the  Canference  of 
1869. —  Chinese   Mission  contemplated. — .4  Plea  for  Help. —  The  Salary 


CONTENTS. 


Question. —  Tlir  Work  in   18G9. — Intfuenrc  of  the  Annual  Visits  of  the. 
Bishops. 

CIIArTER    VI. 

Bishop  Glossbrenner's  Visit  in  1870. —  Want  of  Permanency. —  llie  Board 
of  lilissions  true  to  tJiis  Jlissinn. —  California  Conference  viewed  at  the 
General  Conference  in  1873. — A  Glance  at  the  Firjures  from  1859  to 
1%!^.— Another  Plea  for  Help. —  llie  Death  of  Pec.  John  DollarJiide 
and  Per.  Nelson  Hubbard. — Future  Anticipations. — Bishop  Edwards 
and  the  Conference  of  1871. —  Wouruls  that  Wounded. — Confidence  almost 
Gone. —  TJi.e  Death  of  Pev.  T.  S.  Jakewai/. — ^^ Heroism  and  Victoru." 

CHAPTER    VII. 

Peminiscences  of  Interesting  Ecents. — Phases  of  the  Miner's  Life. — Bisliop 
Shuck  and  Wfe  robbed. — Danger  among  Savages. — Pev.  J.  L.  Field 
2n~eaching  to  the  Indians. — Indian  Thcologg. — '^3I.cmenfo  Jlori.'' — Popu- 
lar Amusements. —  lite  Dodge  Question. — Square  and  Conipass. —  The 
Skull  and  Crossed  Bones. — A  Blast  against  Secret  Societies,  bg  Daniel 
Boland. 

CnATTER   viir. 

Bishop  Dixon  and  the  Conference  of  1872. —  Flickingcr,  the  Financier. — 
A  Model  Missionary  Peport. — Bra.  Young's  Short  S(a>/. — Permanencg 
a  Query. —  The  Conference  of  1873  Omitted. — Paul's  Exhortation. — 
The  Case  of  G.  C\  Starr.— The  Toils  of  J.  W.  Harrow  and  J.  L. 
Field. —  The  Conference  of  1874.— Z)r.  Edwards  and  his  Wonderful 
Lingual  Powers. — Elisha  loilh  us  still. — Pev.  Phil.  Beck  joins  the  Con- 
ference.— J.  L.  Field's  Adventure  v)ith  a  Panther. —  The  Centennial. — 
Grand  Preparations. — ^4  Word  of  Peflcction  as  to  our  Success. —  The 
Aggressive  Conflict.  —  Sabbath  Afternoon  Centenary  Exercises.  —  Dr. 
Edwards  on  the  Stand  again. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
The  Conference  of  187o. — Help  comes  at  Last. —  'The  Fields  of  Labor 
named. — Four  Years'  Work  briejly  reviewed. — Pev.  A.  3Iusselman  in 
Sacramento  City. — Field  and  Becker  preach  in  the  City. — Rev.  T.  J. 
Bauder  joins  our  Panks. —  The  Conferences  of  1876  and  1877. — An 
Error  corrected. —  The  Presiding  Eldership. — A  View  of  Bishop  Castle. — 
The  Conference  of  1878. —  The  Enterprising  Village  of  Woodbridge. — 
Committee  on  the  School  Question.  —  The  Chinese  Question. 

CIIAl'TER  X. 
Pev.  D.  D.  Jlirt  added  to  the  Workers. — A  Glance  into  the  Past. — A  State- 
ment and  some  Reports  of  the  Work  of  the  Conference  of  1879.— Co?i- 
tcmplatcd  31onumcnt  to  the  Memory  of  Sloa.nc. — An  Endowment  Fund 
suggested. —  The  "-Pacific  Telescope." — Facts  in  Figures. — Empty  Fields. 
Woodbridge  Seminary. —  Tlte  Higher  Life. — Sister  Castle  and  Sister 
Sloane. —  Conclusion. 


HISTOKY 


OF  THE 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST 


IN     OALIFOKNI^. 


By  Rev.  H.  J.  BECKER. 


CHAPTER  I. 


NLY  two  of  the  spies  that  were  sent 
to  view  the  promised  land  returned 
with  favorable  reports.  The  others 
were  not  favorably  impressed  with  the 
land,  and  more  especially  did  they  seem  to 
be  terrified  at  the  appearance  of  the  mighty 
giants  that  were  roaiiing  about,  to  whom 
they  appeared  "  but  as  grasshoppers." 
There  are  multiplied  numbers  of  sojourn- 
ers who  come  and  go  from  our  State  with 
a  variety  of  reports  differing  from  those 
of  others  as  the  various  localities  differ 
from  each  other  in  both  their  natural  re- 
sources and  their  climatic  influences. 

As  we  are  requested  to  give  a  brief  de- 
scription of  the  home  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  this  land  of  the  "golden 
sunset,"  we  will  devote  the  first  chapter 
to  some  interesting  facts  respecting  this, 
the  most  wonderful  of  all  States  in  our 
civil  compact,  a  State  that  has  indeed 
become  the  inexhaustible  cornucopia  of 
the  commercial  world.  She  is  the  mod- 
ern Ophir  in  her  rich  deposits  of  gold. 
She  is  the  Eden  of  the  world  in  the  fruits 
of  her  garden,  even  of  "every  kind." 
The  fields  in  her  valleys  and  bv  her 
mountain  sides  are  the  most  fertile  and 
productive  of  the  earth.  We  have  ores 
from  mundic  to  galena,  and  from  cinnibar 
to  gold.  We  have  "precious  stones" 
from    jasper    to    crystalline.       We    have 


timber  from  pine  to  mahogany,  and  from 
cherry  to  manzinita.  Our  fruit  is  inde- 
scribably delicious.  Our  orchards  bear 
apples,  peaches,  plums,  pears,  apricots, 
cherries,  prunes,  figs,  lemons,  oranges, 
p©rsimmoiiS,  pomegranates,  and  the  "  fruit 
of  heaven."  We  raise  cranberries,  rasp- 
berries, gooseberries,  blackberries,  straw- 
berries, whortleberries,  mulberries,  dew- 
berries, and  grapes  of  every  kind.  The 
vegetables  are  those  of  a  semi-tropical 
country.  Among  others,  we  have  pota- 
toes, turnips,  radishes,  onions,  parsnips, 
cabbages,  lettuce,  celery,  asparagus,  peas, 
beans,  and  greens  of  every  kind.  The 
farmers  raise  wheat,  oats,  barley,  rye, 
corn,  buckwheat,  and  clover  (alfalfa). 
Our  grazing  lands  are  covered  with  sheep, 
goats,  horses,  and  cattle.  The  mountains 
furnish  the  hunter  with  antelope,  deer, 
bear,  California  lions,  cougars,  cata- 
mounts, tigers,  and  wildcats.  We  have 
mountain  trout  and  river  salmon,  perch, 
sunfish,  sturgeon,  flounders,  shell  fish  and 
shrimps  in  abundance. 

We  will  give  our  readers  a  statement 
from  official  sources  of  the  magic  growth 
and  unparalleled  industry  of  the  Pacific 
Coast : 

"The  San  Francisco  Journal  of  Com- 
merce and  Price  Current  in  its  annual 
review  of  the  commercial  and  industrial 
development  of  the  Pacific  coast  in  the 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in   Christ  in  California. 


centennial  year,  presents  some  facts  and 
figures  of  a  remarkable  character.  From 
the  statistical  portion  of  this  reriew  we 
gather  the  following  interesting  item  : 
The  population  of  the  State  of  California 
is  set  down  at  900,000,  and  the  addition 
to  her  population  during  the  vear  by  im- 
migration, etc.,  at  55,000.  The  popula- 
tion of  San  Francisco  is  stated  to  be  280,- 
000,  and  that  of  the  Pacific  coast  1,600,- 
000.  The  import  trade  amounted  to 
$80,000,000,  and  the  export  $50,000,000, 
and  manufactures  $61,000,000.  The 
yield  of  gold  and  silver  on  the  coast 
during  the  year  reached  $100,000,000, 
and  the  yield  since  1848  over  $1,700,000,- 
000.  The  wheat  crop  of  California  was 
22,500,000  centals,  worth  $40,000,000; 
the  wool  yield,  50,000,000  j)Ounds,  worth 
$9,00(J,000;  the  wine  yield,  11,000,000 
gallons,  and  the  quicksilver,  66,000  flasks. 
With  reference  to  the  future  it  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  greatest  sources  of  wealth, 
the  magnificent  array  of  woodlands  pos- 
sessed by  the  Pacific  States  which,  it 
claims,  are  probably  unequaled  and  cer- 
tainly unsurpassed  on  the  earth.  Upon 
this  subject  it  indulges  in  the  following 
language;  'Ere  another  century  has 
rolled  over  the  heads  of  tlie  people  of 
this  republic,  the  States  east  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  the  Canadas  will  have 
V^een  stripped  of  their  forests,  and  Europe, 
Austria,  and  North  America  will  have  to 
look  to  the  Pacific  Coast  for  lumber. 
And  from  the  southerly  termination  of 
the  Sierra  Nevada  and  the  northerly  side 
of  San  Francisco  Bay,  to  the  northern 
liills  of  Alaska,  the  broad  belt  of  moun- 
tains, the  girdle  of  the  earth,  is  clothed 
with  what  may  be  termed  an  everlasting 
forest,  S()me  of  the  monarchs  of  which 
have  probably  stood  since  creation.  The 
quantity  of  timber  contained  in  these 
woodlands  is  estimated  at  four  millions 
of  millions  of  feet  of  lumber,  worth   at 


the  low  rate  of  five  dollars  per  thousand 
— one  half  of  the  present  rate  twenty 
thousand  millions  of  dollars — worth  at 
the  present  mill  ]>rice  of  lumber  forty 
thousand  millions  of  dcillars.  There  is  no 
species  of  lumber  that  may  be  required 
for  any  useful  purpose  that  may  not  be 
foimd  somewhere  on  the  Pacific  coast  or 
islands.  Tiie  yellow  fir  of  Washington 
Territory  and  the  pine  of  the  same  region 
is  unequaled  for  purposes  of  shipbuild- 
ing, while  the  other  woods  of  the  region 
northward  from  Santa  Cruz  to  British 
Columbia,  and  up  to  Alaska,  cannot  be 
exceeded  for  house-building  purposes. 
In  central  or  southern  California  the 
California  laurel  and  many  other  hard 
and  ornamental  woods  make  the  finest 
kind  of  furniture,  while  if  we  wish  to 
draw  from  the  Pacific  Islands  and  the 
western  Mexican  coast,  there  is  no  wood 
that  even  can  be  imagined,  of  any  shade, 
color,  hardness,  or  sus.^eptibility  of  pol- 
ish that  may  not  be  found.'  " 

When  we  approach  the  scenery  of  this 
mighty  El  Dorado  we  are  lost  in  wonder 
and  enshrouded  in  a  veil  of  Nature's  mys- 
terious garb.  Language  cannot  convey  the 
grandeur  of  rocks,  hills,  brooks,  and  vales 
here  to  be  seen.  Of  these  wonderful  works 
of  God  one  can  say  with  the  poet  Milton, 

"Wonderful,  iudeed,  are  all  His  works, 
Pleaaaut  to  know,  and  worthiest  to  be  all 
Had  in  remembrance  always  witli  delight  ; 
But  what  created  mind  can  comprehend 
Their  number,  or  tlic  wisdom  intlnite 
Tliat  brought  them  fcirtli,  Imt  hid  their  causes 
deep." 

Let  us  walk  out  and  view  the  majestic 
handiwork.  "  See  the  broadest  plains,  the 
loftiest  mountains,  the  finest  agricultural 
and  grazing  lands,  and  also  the  most  bar- 
ren deserts,  until  one  can  look  out  upon 
el  desereta  from  some  oasis  where  grows 
the  staff'  ot  life  in  surplus  abundance." 
But  we  continue  :  "At  one  time  we  are 
upon  the  brink  of  a  chasm  2,500  feet  in 
depth,  tben  beside  a  dome  6,000  feet  in 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


height ;  at  another  time  on  a  mountain 
2,339  feet  above  and  then  266  feet  below 
the  level  of  the  sea." 

California  has  an  area  of  188,981  square 
miles.  It  is  700  miles  in  length  and  200 
miles  in  breadth.  There  are  two  ranges 
of  mountains  that  traverse  the  entire 
length  of  the  State,  viz  :  the  Sierra  Ne- 
vadas  and  the  Coast  Range.  Numerous 
rivers  carry  the  water  from  the  mountains 
to  the  sea.  They  serve  as  irrigators  to 
give  the  land  the  benefit  of  the  overflow, 
while  they  carry  oif  much  of  value,  and 
often  discourage  the  rancher.  They  have 
been  known  suddenly  to  rise  above  low 
veater  mark  to  a  distance  of  twenty-six 
feet.  Several  of  these  streams  are  navi- 
gable, prominent  among  which  are  the 
Sacramento  and  the  Stockton  Slough. 

Our  towns  and  cities  are  quite  prosper- 
ous. Stockton  may  be  taken  as  a  model 
of  the  intermediate  sized  cities.  It  has 
a  population  of  about  10,000.  It  has  12 
churches  and  37  civic  societies,  28  of 
which  are  secret  orders.  We  will  here 
give  the  names  of  some  of  them  as  copied 
from  the  Stockton  Directory:  "Cham- 
pions of  the  Red  Cross,  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, I.  O.  O.  F.,  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, United  Ancient  Order  of  Druids, 
Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  B'Nai  B'Bith, 
Improved  (?)  Order  of  Red  Men,  I.  O.  G. 
T.,  Knights  of  the  Blue  Cross,  Campag- 
nia  Italiana  De  Bersaliera,  Congregation 
Ryim  Ahoovim,  Turn  Verein,  S.  J.  V., 
A^  O.  v.,  T.  M.  W.,  Pioneers,  Stockton 
Grange,  Liberal  League." 

We  are  not  now  ready  to  say,  "The 
zeal  of  mine  house  hath  eaten  me  up  ;" 
but  we  are  persuaded  that  we  need  help, 
"for  the  godly  man  ceaseth."  The  very 
life  of  the  churches  is  gone.  Whenever 
thirty-seven  human  organizations  attempt 
to  supply  the  place  of  the  church  of  God 
her  destiny  is  sealed,     "We  can't  get  up 


a  revival,"  is  the  cry.  No  !  neither  could 
Simon  Magus,  though  he  offered  money 
to  obtain  the  power.  When  will  the 
Church  take  and  fill  her  place  in  Califor- 
nia ? 

Stockton  is  quite  a  commercial  center. 
It  is  a  place  for  shipping  grain  to  San 
Francisco  both  by  steamer  and  by  rail. 
The  capacity  of  the  warehouses  of  this 
one  wheat  market  is  75,000  tons.  It  is 
also  quite  a  manufacturing  town.  They 
have  iron  works,  agricultural  implements 
of  every  demand,  carriage  manufactories, 
planing  mills ;  also,  woolen  mills,  paper 
and  city  mills,  and  tanneries.  They  have 
gold  banks,  with  a  capital  of  $2,500,000, 
county  hospital,  public  schools,  etc.  Your 
attention  is  called  to  the  condition  of  the 
unfortunate  we  have  in  the  asylums. 
From  1851  to  1877  they  received  8,242: 
patients.  Few  ever  get  well ;  many  die. 
Their  insanity  seems  different  from  any 
previous  acquaintance  with  the  history  of 
the  unfortunate  victims.  There  is  some- 
thing about  this  climate  that  acts  strangely 
upon  some  systems.  Some  ascribe  it  to 
the  hot  climate  ;  others  to  the  cold  nights. 
The  native  Spaniards  call  this  State  cal- 
ianta  fornalla  (hot  furnace).  Perhaps 
the  sudden  changes  from  hot  to  cool  does 
change  the  relation  of  the  system  upon 
the  mind  to  such  an  extent  as  to  greatly 
embarrass  it.  Strong  drink  and  financial 
disappointments  have  had  more  to  do 
with  the  matter  than  any  other  influence, 
notwithstanding  the  views  of  others. 
Our  State  has  much  to  do  to  correct  the 
condition  of  affairs.  It  can  do  so,  and  it 
ought  to  do  so,  and  we  now  think  that  it 
will  take  the  matter  in  hand  and  amelic- 
rate  our  sufferings  and  elevate  our  society. 
We  have  climatic  influences  here  that 
greatly  affect  the  physical  system,  and 
may  be  the  cause  of  the  nervous  paralysis 
so  frequent  among  us.  It  is  not  consid- 
ered that  the  sudden  changes  from  heat 


6 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in   Oxlifornia. 


to  coH  are  congenial  to  the  health  of  the 
people,  especially  the  female.  The  dry 
season  sets  in  about  the  first  of  June, 
and  continues  until  about  the  middle  of 
September.  Since  the  clearing  up  of  the 
•^'live  oak"  groves  in  some  sections  the 
rains  have  been  less  regular  and  less  fre- 
■quent.  The  thermometer  often  runs  up 
to  130°  degrees  in  the  Summer,  and  down 
to  10°  below  freezing  in  the  Winter. 
The  Winter  through  which  we  have  just 
passed  has  been  the  coldest  known  to  the 
Californian.  Ice  was  known  to  freeze  to 
the  thickness  of  one  half  an  inch.  The 
ice  here  is  as  great  a  curiosity  to  the  chil- 
dren as  snow  would  be  in  central  Ohio  in 
the  month  of  July.  If  the  State  were 
to  spend  one  half  the  amount  she  annu- 
ally expends  to  take  care  of  the  sick,  in 
regulating  the  sanitary  condition  of  many 
of  the  towns  and  cities,  sickness,  with  all 
its  direful  results,  would  be  decreased  to 
■3b  comparative  small  number,  and  obviate 
the  necessity  of  heavy  taxation,  and 
greatly  alleviate  the  sufferings  and  ame- 
liorate the  condition  of  her  people. 

But  to  return  to  the  further  industries 
of  the  model  city.  Stockton  has  home 
manufactories,  and  abundant  resources  to 
supply  the  inhabitants  with  food  and 
clothing,  and  every  necessary  article  of 
comfort.  The  rancher  can  purchase  anv 
farming  implement  that  he  may  need  to 
cultivate  and  garner  the  products  of  the 
ranch.  The  mechanic  can  secure  any 
tool  or  section  of  machinery  necessary  to 
success  in  his  avocation.  The  student 
can  secure  an  education  that  will  qualify 
him  to  ent(M-  any  of  the  common  pursuits 
of  life.  In  short,  Stockton  is  a  complete 
storehouse  of  the  essentials  and  com- 
modities of  her  people. 

What  we  say  of  Stockton  is  equally 
applicable  to  any  of  the  other  cities  in 
the  State.  Competition  (not  opposition) 
is  the  life  of  trade.     Sacramento  is,  per- 


haps, the  largest  interior  commercial  city 
in  the  State.  The  writer  does  not  wish 
to  invoice  her  storehouses,  nor  count  her 
treasuries,  but  will  only  add  that  her  re- 
sources are  inexhaustible,  and  her  gar- 
nered deposits  both  fnammcih  and  legio/t. 
Stockton  lacks  one  thing  (let  all  apply) — 
her  religious  interests  are  not  where  nor 
what  they  ought  to  be.  We  have  already 
hinted  at  the  societies  outside  of  the 
churches,  and  may  now  say  that  they  are 
the  organic  parasites  that  draw  the  life 
current  of  the  Church  and  feed  upon  her 
very  vitals.  The  Church  may  be  to 
blame  in  many  places  for  not  calling 
into  question  the  looseness  that  prevails 
among  her  membership,  and  a  failure  in 
a  variety  of  well  authenticated  cases 
wherein  "  bowels  of  mercies "  were  left 
to  the  symj)athies  of  the  outside  world, 
who,  although  they  visited  a  few  "  widows 
and  orphans  in  their  affliction,"  did  not 
keep  themselves  unspotted  from  the  world. 

Let  the  Church  step  to  the  front,  and 
become  what  her  great  founder  designed 
her  to  be,  viz  :  "  The  ground  and  pillar  of 
truth  "  and  the  "  distributor  to  the  neces- 
sities of  the  needy,"  and  the  many  insti- 
tutions that  claim  ''  charity  "  as  the  only 
object  ot  their  organization  would  sur- 
render their  charter  and  bow  to  the  ob- 
ligations of  a  holy  life,  or  continiie  to 
hold  membership  in  a  society  that  is  of 
no  earthly  use,  except  to  keep  up  the 
social  circle,  lie  who  will  not  trust  his 
society  to  the  care  of  the  "  household 
of  faith "  is  certainly  incompcitent  to 
stand  at  the  head  of  any  organization 
outside  of  the  pales  of  the  Church,  or 
hold  membership  among  those  who  will 
not  "  renounce  the  hidden  things  of  dis- 
honesty" and  become  "fellow  citizens 
with  the  saints." 

But  the  lodge  is  not  the  only  trouble 
in  the  way  of  the  success  of  these 
churches.     Popular    amusements    is    the 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


curse  of  society,  and  more  especially  of 
the  Christian  community.  Church  fairs, 
theaters,  socials,  etc.,  in  the  name  of  the 
Church,  have  destroyed  the  influence  of 
some  of  the  strongest  societies  in  the 
State.  The  language  of  Jesus  to  those 
of  his  time  on  earth  was.  "  The  zeal  of 
mine  liouse  hath  eaten  me  up."  The 
pastors  of  San  Francisco  passed  resolu- 
tions against  these  too  frequent  practices, 
and  read  them  from  their  pulpits  in  the 
city,  and  commented  upon  the  same.  It 
made  a  salutary  effect. 

The  people  of  this  g  reat  State  are  cos- 
mopolitan. Ideality  is  quite  largely  de- 
veloped here.  Their  projects  are  so  ar- 
ranged as  to  evade  (they  think)  the  hallu- 
cinations of  " imagination's  hollow  dream; 
all  hollow,  hollow,  hollow  !"  But  alas  ! 
the  most  carefully  arranged  plans  often 
fail,  and  as  often  paralyze  the  arm  of 
success  to  such  an  extent  as  never  to  re- 
cover from  it. 

The  railroad  land  monopoly  and 
the  Mexican  grants  demoralized  the 
state  of  aifairs  greatly.  The  name  of 
Frank  Page  will  enter  the  annals  of  our 
history  as  a  political  benefactor  and  a 
philanthropist.  It  was  he  who  passed 
the  Settler's  bill,  by  which  large  tracts  of 
land  were  put  into  the  hands  of  those 
whose  lands  had  been  in  litigation  for 
from  two  to  twelve  years.  A  large 
barbecue  was  held  in  Lodi  in  the  Sum- 
mer of  1877,  at  which  it  was  estimated 
that  10,000  people  had  gatliered  to  ex- 
press their  thanks  to  the  man  ^^ho,  with 
tears,  held  up  their  claim  until  finally, 
amidst  acclamation  of  praise,  loud  and 


long,  the  homes  of  the  industrious  and 
indefatigable  Californian  were  declared 
'■'■free  from  all  incumbrances.''''  Golden 
tongued  orators  ascended  the  stand  and 
gave  glowing  perorations  upon  the  name 
and  to  the  memory  of  Frank  Page. 

Taxes  are  very  heavy.  Last  year  the 
State  and  covinty  taxes  in  Tulare  were 
$2  41  to  every  $100  worth  of  property. 
Besides  this,  there  is  an  annual  poll  tax  of 
$6  to  every  citizen.  Then  there  are  in- 
dividual ferries  and  toll  roads,  and  other 
contingent  expenses,  which  pvdl  upon  the 
treasury  strings  as  though  a  magazine 
would  explode  the  instant  there  is  the 
least  cessation. 

There  are  many  things  of  which  we 
could  speak,  but  will  not  at  this  time. 
The  United  Brethren  in  Christ  have  cast 
their  lot  here,  and  intend  to  project  a 
work  that  will  honor  God.  They  are 
prospering,  and  are  taking  steps  to  press 
their  principles  upon  the  hearts  and 
minds  of  the  unsaved,  and  be  the  means 
of  adding  "  much  people  unto  the  Lord." 
Their  fields  of  labor  are  scattered  among 
the  fertile  valleys  of  the  San  Joaquin  and 
the  Sacramento.  They  have  flourishing 
societies  in  the  Coast  Range  Mountains, 
and  at  the  base  of  the  mighty  and  ma- 
jestic Sierra  Nevadas,  whose  tops  are 
covered  with  perpetual  snows,  made 
wonderfully  grand  by  the  panoramic 
scenes  of  an  adjacent  clouded  sky.  We 
shall  devote  the  second  chapter  to  the 
opening  of  the  mission  in  this  Eden  of 
America,  and  some  of  the  noble  projects 
of  the  United  Brethren. 


CHAPTER  II. 
^IjALIFORNIA  was  in  a  very  wild  con- 
^^  ditiou,  being  inhabited  by  Mexicans 
and  Indians,  who  rambled  over  the 
country  without  restraint,  except  by  sav- 
age cruelties,  until  1769,  when  the  mis- 


sionaries from  Spain  and  from  Mexico 
took  up  large  tracts  of  land  secured  them 
by  Mexican  grants,  it  being  their  object 
to  educate  and  at  least  nominally  convert 
the  Indians  to  the  prevailing  religion  of 
Mexico.  Twenty-one  missions  were  estab- 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  O.ilifornia. 


lished  at  different  times  and  places  from 
1769  to  1802.  San  Diego  Mission  was 
the  farthest  south,  and  San  Francisco  the 
most  northern  one  History  informs  us 
that  they  lield  in  their  possession  no  less 
than  twenty  thousand  square  miles  of  the 
most  productive  soil  in  that  portion  of 
tlie  domain.  The  padres  grew  rich,  and 
cared  but  little  for  the  poor  Indian. 
They  made  them  do  all  of  the  hard  work, 
while  the  prime  object  of  the  missions 
was  entirely  neglected.  The  priests  did 
perhaps  attend  to  morning  and  evening 
praj'ers,  but  outside  of  that  there  was  lit- 
tle that  was  calculated  to  aid  the  Indian 
in  becoming  civilized,  much  less  converted 
to  Christianity.  In  1831  there  were  over 
eighteen  thousand  domesticated  Indians 
at  these  missions.  Their  aboriginal  blood 
became  largely  mingled  with  that  of  Spain 
and  Mexico,  breeding  nothing  but  indo- 
lence and  wretchedness  which  is  still  ap- 
parent in  this  State,  and  largely  in  the 
way  of  the  success  of  the  Church  in  South- 
ern California.  These  half-civilized  na- 
tive bands,  known  to  us  as  mongrels,  are 
no  benefit  to  the  country.  We  speak  of 
this  because  it  shall  be  of  some  service  as 
we  pass  over  the  territory  of  our  society 
in  a  future  chapter.  The  Mexican  revo- 
lution cast  a  cloud  over  these  missions, 
and  they  soon  ran  out. 

The  report  of  gold  in  1848  hastily 
spread  over  the  world,  and  as  if  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  mandate  of  a  monarch,  the 
people  came  in  se  irch  of  the  glittering 
jewel.  Some  of  those  whose  names  are 
now  on  our  class  books  came  here  in 
1848,  among  them  Uncle  Daniel  Ilunsa- 
ker  and  wife  now  members  of  our  society 
at  Harmony,  in  Tulare  County.  But 
1849  may  be  set  down  as  the  opening 
year  of  the  gold  mines,  and  the  magic 
influx  from  the  nations  until  in  1850  Cali- 
fornia was  almost  as  populous  as  many 
of  the  States  of  a  quarter  of  a  century's 


growth.  The  story  of  the  "  crossing  of 
the  plains"  is  yet  quite  fresh  in  the  minds 
of  our  people.  Many  of  them  came  in 
'49.  They  are  held  in  high  esteem  here. 
Some  of  them  celebrate  its  annual  return 
as  regular  as  we  do  the  Fourth  of  July. 
Owing  to  the  extreme  distance  from  one 
mine  to  another  it  was  with  difficulty  that 
our  people  effected  a  permanent  organ- 
ization here  until  a  few  years  later. 
Many  of  them  held  their  letters  from 
their  societies  in  the  East,  hoping  that  an 
organization  could  be  effected,  and  that 
they  could-  again  enjoy  the  blessings  of 
the  house  of  the  Lord.  The  cry  of  gold 
in  a  score  of  places  simultaneously  kept 
many  of  the  villages  from  being  estab- 
lished excepting  a  few  of  those  in  the 
extensive  gold  fields.  The  mountains 
and  foothills  bear  many  marks  of  former 
towns  and  cabins,  but  now  all  is  sile*nt 
except  the  busy  squirrel  that  enjoys  the 
"dugout,"  and  seems  as  happy  with  the 
contents  of  a  pine  burr  as  ever  the  miner 
did  with  his  nugget  of  gold. 

A  United  Brethren  preacher,  whose 
name  appears  quite  frequently  in  connec- 
tion with  the  work  in  the  early  days, 
known  as  Father  Thompson,  came  in 
1849.  His  name  properly  occupies  the 
first  place  on  the  ministerial  list  in  this 
State.  He  preached  wherever  an  oppor- 
tunity offered  itself.  He  was  still  here 
when  Israel  Sloane  came  to  open  a 
mission  in  1858.  In  answer  to  the  ques- 
tion :  "Who  were  then  in  the  ministry?" 
The  answer  was  given:  "Revs.  David 
Thom])son  and  Israel  Sloane."  Bear  in 
mind  that  these  were  not  the  only  United 
Brethren  ministers  that  were  in  the  State 
then,  for  some  of  our  most  efficient  men 
came  in  1850,  and  from  that  time  forward 
the  people  had  no  occasion  to  lack  for 
preaching.  The  gold  fever  affected  men 
in  those  days,  however,  and  there  seemed 
to  be   no  elixir  that  could   break   it  up. 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


9 


Some  of  the  preachers,  notwithstanding, 
did  hold  the  cross  up  to  the  world,  and 
amidst  the  most  desperate  opposing  efforts 
of  the  "border  ruffians,"  they  unfurled 
the  banner  of  the  free,  and  waved  it  over 
the  heads  of  their  hearers  until  many  of 
them  were  persuaded  to  become  partakers 
of  divine  grace. 

"  The  sound  of  the  church-^n^oiiig'  bell, 

These  rocks  and  these  vallej'S  ne'er  heard  ; 
Ne'er  smiled  at  the  sound  of  a  knell, 
Nor  frowned  when  a  Sabbath  appeared." 

But  we  may  say  : 

The  voice  of  the  servants  of  God, 
Ranjf  out  like  the  loud  trumpet's  roar  ; 

Obedience  was  called  to  His  word — 
"  Do  good — cease  sinning,  and  blaspheme  no 
more." 

Rev.  J.  W.  Harrow  and  his  brother 
James  came  to  the  State  in  '49 ;  also, 
Rev.  C.  W.  Gillett  and  others.  Rev.  J. 
Ackerson,  a  native  of  Ohio,  arrived  at 
Placerville  on  the  5th  of  August,  1850. 
He  remained  in  the  mines  three  years, 
and  in  '53  went  to  Humboldt  County, 
where  he  now  resides.  Rev.  B.  B.  Allen, 
a  native  of  Indiana,  arrived  at  Weaver 
on  the  8th  of  August,  1850,  just  three 
days  after  Mr.  Ackerson  arrived  at  Placer- 
yille.  Mr.  Allen  preached  in  Weaver  the 
next  day,  it  being  the  Sabbath.  He  took 
his  text  from  Exodus  xiv,  13  —  "And 
Moses  said  unto  the  people  :  Fear  ye 
not :  stand  still  and  see  the  salvation  of 
God."  He  had  an  attentive  audience. 
A  Rev.  Mr.  More,  of  Missouri,  came 
across  the  plains  with  Mr.  Allen,  and 
reached  the  Humboldt  Mountains  in 
safety,  but  suddenly  took  sick  and  died. 
He  is  buried  near  the  old  emigrant  trail 
in  that  range  ©f  mountains.  He  and 
Brother  Allen  preached  quite  often  cross- 
ing the  plains.  Brother  More  would 
have  lieen  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the 
work  on  the  coast  could  he  have  reached 
it  in  health. 

By  this  time  quite  a  large  number  of 
United  Brethren  families  had  reached  the 


State,  but  settled  in  different  parts  of  it, 
so  that  an  extensive  organization  was  still 
out  of  the  question.  This,  however,  did 
not  interfere  with  their  individual  duties 
to  God.  They  continued  improving  every 
opportunity,  and  hoping  and  praying  for 
the  glad  day  to  dawn  upon  them  when 
the  work  could  be  permanently  orgaidzed 
and  divine  services  held  at  stated  times 
and  places.  In  this  they  were  not  disap- 
pointed. God  heard  thern  and  their  ex- 
pectation's were  realized. 

Home  missions  had  been  established  in 
all  of  the  conferences  in  the  Church,  but 
the  subject  of  foreign  and  frontier  mis- 
sions had  not  yet  arrived  at  perfection. 
It  was,  however,  agitated  in  various  quar- 
ters of  our  Zion  by  some  ©f  our  leading 
men,  and  at  the  General  Conference  in 
1841  a  parent  board  was  appointed  to  act 
in  the  matter.  They  finally  succeeded  iu 
arranging  plans  for  more  extended  op- 
eration. This  board  was  reappointed 
in  1843  and  again  in  1849.  From  '49  to 
'53  the  cry  for  harvesters  came  with 
such  earnestness  as  to  stir  up  the  whole 
Church  upon  the  necessity  of  immedi- 
ate action.  The  great,  grand  period 
came,  and  1853  may  be  set  down  as  the 
brightest  epoch  in  the  annals  of  our 
history  as  a  Church. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Bright  (hie  portrait  appears 
on  next  page)  is  honored  by  our  people 
everywhere  for  his  work's  sake  ;  but  by 
none  more  than  by  the  United  Brethren 
in  California.  Mr.  Bright  was  the  chair- 
man of  a  committee  of  the  Sciota  Con- 
ference in  1853  that  brought  in  a  report 
relative  to  the  mission  work  of  the 
Church,  the  first  item  of  which  was, 
"That  the  time  has  fully  come  when 
the  United  Brethren  should  unite  their 
whole  strength  in  a  missionary  society, 
which  shall  include  not  only  the  home 
but  the  foreign  and  the  frontier  fields  in 
the  sphere  of  its  labors."     Bishop  Ed- 


10 


History  of  the   United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


REV.    J.    0.     BRIGHT. 


M'ards  and  II.  C.  Spayth  made  telling 
Bpeeches  upon  the  I'eport.  It  passed 
without  a  dissenting  voice.  The  Gen- 
oral  Cont'eronce  in  the  same  year  car- 
ried out  the  wishes  of  the  people,  and 
completed  the  organization,  i.5.  Gloss- 
brenner  was  elected  President,  and  J.  C. 
Bright  Corresponding  Secretary.     Mr. 


Bright  went  to  work  at  once  to  secure 
funds  for  the  societ}'.  He  had  excellent 
success,  and  soon  gathered  means  to  aid 
both  the  foreign  and  frontier  work. 

But  let  us  go  back  a  little  and  view 
the  progress  of  the  mission.  The  Ore- 
gon work  is  quite  closel}'  connected 
with  this,  and  has  ever  been  considered 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in   California. 


11 


as  having  nothing  tn  the  way  of  united 
action  except  an  almost  impassable 
mountain.  Rev.  T.  J.  Conner  and  Rev. 
J.  Kenoyer  and  twenty  nine  laymen  set 
out  for  Oregon  in  185H.  They  crossed 
the  Plains  with  teams,  and  reached  their 
destination  after  a  long  and  tiresome 
journey  of  a  half  year.  They  opened 
up  a  good  work,  one  that  has  indeed 
had  its  struggles,  but  to-day  stands  in 
connection  v»ith  the  Walla  Walla  Con- 
ference ready  to  everj^  good  work. 
Several  of  the  preachers  and  laymen 
passed  back  and  forth  from  Oregon  to 
California,  and  vice  versa.  J.  H.  May- 
field,  of  whom  we  shall  speak  again, 
came  to  this  field  from  Oregon,  and  did 
efficient  work.  His  name  is  a  house- 
hold word.  Brother  M.  was  the  Cart- 
wright  of  California.  Some  of  the  very 
best  men  in  the  conference  district  were 
brought  in  through  his  instrumentality. 
His  fame  went  before  him,  while  his 
reputation,  it  followed  after.  In  1853 
several  families  came  from  the  East  and 
settled  at  Monument,  Cache  Creek, 
Putah  Creek,  and  Woodland,  in  Yolo 
County,  and  others  went  to  Fern  dale 
and  Petrolia,  in  Humboldt  County.  Sev 
eral  families  scattered  throughout  Lake, 
Butte,  Sacramento,  San  Joaquin,  and 
other  counties  in  the  State. 

'But  one  thing  remained  to  be  done, 
and  the  United  Brethren  would  have 
organized  work  and  workers  in  Cali- 
fornia— that  was  assistance  from  abroad 
untjl  such  time  as  the  work  would  be- 
come sufficiently  strong  to  sustain  its 
laborers.  The  ministerial  brethren  who 
were  here  were  in  a  local  relation  to 
the  Church,  and  were  not  here  for  the 
special  work,  nor  could  they  then  have 
been  sustained  in  the  work  without  aid 
from  a  parent  fund.  The  parent  board 
had  considerable  expense  in  the  outset 
as  they  had  opened  the  Oregon  Mission, 


and  also  sent  Rev.  D.  K.  Flickinger  and 
Rev.  W.  J.  Shuey  to  open  a  micsion  in 
Shangey,  West  Africa  ;  but  finally  in 
1858  Rev.  Israel  Sloane,  who  had  in 
1854  opened  the  first  missionary  society 
in  Canada  in  which  he  labored  success- 
fully for  nearly  four  years,  volunteered 
to  open  a  mission  in  California.  He 
immediately  made  arrangements  .  to 
start  out  upon  the  journey  with  his 
family.  Ho  left  New  York,  October^ 
1858,  and  after  a  voyage  of  twent}'  four 
days  from  New  York  he  landed  his 
family  in  San  Francisco,  from  which 
place  he  took  a  river  steamer  up  to 
Sacramento  City,  where  the}^  were  met 
b}^  Brother  N.  Dunning,  and  taken  to 
his  home  at  Monument  six  miles  up 
the   Sacram^ito  River. 

The  sense  of  duty  that  brought  Mr. 
Sloane    to   the    coast   may   be   gleaned 
from  a  note   to   Brother  Lawrence,  of. 
the   Telescope,  dated  October  6th,  1858_ 
After   speaking  of  the  efforts  he  was 
putting  forth  to  acquaint  himself  some- 
what with   the  field   to  which  he   was 
going,  he  said  :     "  But  even  up  to  the 
present    time   1   feel    more   attached  to^ 
and  more  concerned  about  the  work  in 
Canada  than  any  other  place  to  which 
I  have  ever  been  appointed.     I  weuld 
still  love  to  labor  in  Canada,  but  I  am 
reminded  that  Hhe  field  is  the  world  ;' 
and  while  we  have  a  number  of  good; 
missionaries  in    Canada,  and   of  whomi 
the  Church  need  not  be  ashamed,  andi 
whose    labors    have    been    abundantly 
blest,  California  is  without  one  of  our 
missionaries."     Mr.  Sloane's  early  writ- 
ings  plainly   indicate    that    he    was   a 
"chosen  vessel"  to  mission  fields,  and 
that  in  that  work  he  was  contented.    It 
is  not  exaggeration  to  say  that  in  Canada 
and  here  in  California  Brother  John  C. 
Bright  "planted,"  Brother  Israel  Sloane 
"  watered,"    and    there   are    numeroua. 


12 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


witnesses  among  us  now  who  can  tes- 
tify that  God  gave  the  "increase."  In 
1854,  in  a  missionary  sermon,  he  said  : 
"And  now  is  the  time.  Yes,  brethren, 
now  is  the  time  for  our  people  to  make 
a  strong  effort  for  something.  It  is 
needed,  and  the  sentiment  of  the  age, 
the  light  of  the  times,  the  tendency  of 
things,  the  claims  of  truth,  the  aspect  of 
Providence,  the  voice  of  God,  Christian- 
My  and  philanthrophy  ;  yea,  and  the 
Avails  of  the  damned,  all  unite  to  demand 
it.  And  who  shall  be  behind  in  this 
work  ?  I  cannot  think  this  work  will 
be  in  the  least  neglected  considerately. 
There  is  too  much  apostolic  holiness  in 
the  breast  of  our  people  to  go  on  a  cru- 
sade against  the  missionary  work  by 
refusing  to  pay  liberally  to  its  support." 
But  hear  him  again  after  speaking  of 
the  missionary  work  as  the  "one  busi- 
ness," and  following  it  with  a  beau- 
tiful peroration  upon  Stephen  the  Mar- 
tyr, he  breaks  out  in  the  following  elo- 
quent strain  :  "  Notwithstanding  the 
Acbans,  Simon  Magoses,  and  Judases,  j 
there  are  those  who  like  Mary  linger  at 
the  cross  when  others  have  fled,  and  i 
like  Peter  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost 
declare  Jesus  and  the  Resurrection,  fear- 
less of  the  insulting  dignities  or  the  pre- 
judice of  the  |»ublic  throng." 

The  following  original  poem  from  his 
pen  should  inspire  the  California  mis- 
sionary with  a  zeal  commensurate  with 
the  hardest  toil  incident  to  his  work  : 

"LET   ME    LABOR    WHILE   I    CAN." 

Let  me  labor  wliile  I  can — my  dny  of  probation 
Is  stealing:  o'er  my  head  like  the  clouds  o'er  the 
8ky  ; 

My  moments  are  passlne;  without  any  cessation. 
Which  tells  me  life's  wastinj;- and  I  must  soon  die. 

Let  nic  labor  while  I  can- -in  life's  transient  mwrning 
I  am  always  in  dan.i^er  of  falling!;  in  death  ; 

And  how  often  it  is  tliat  without  any  warnin;^, 
Probationers  here  are  deprived  of  their  breath. 

Let  me  labor  while  I  can — why  should  I  be  idle  ? 

There  is  much  to  be  done  in  the  vineyard  of  flod. 
Millions  of  souls  who  are  i/^norant  of  the  liible 

Are  annually  bowing  their  heads  'neath  the  sod. 


Let  me  labor  while  I  can — while  time  is  afforded 
For  labor  and  toil,  salvation  to  obtain  ; 

And  Scri])ture  assures  us  the  servants  are  rewarded 
Who  labor  for  Christ,  poor  sinners  to  train. 

With  such  a  man  at  the   helm  there 
must  be   success.     When  a  man   is  full 
of  God,  and  feels  that  he  is  laboring  in 
the  sphere  that  God  directs,  there  is  no 
earthly  power  that  can  drive  that  man 
from  his  work.     Mr.  Sloane  immediately 
proceeded    to   work    in    his    new   field. 
On  the    tenth    of   December,   1858,   he 
wrote  to    the  Religious    Telescope:     "I 
have  been  in  California  forty  days  and   i 
preached    twenty-three    times.     A    few 
souls    have     been    converted    and    re- 
claimed, and  I  have  taken  eight  names 
with   which   to  commence  a  class.     In 
another  community  there  are  a  few  ready 
to  be  organized  into  a  class."     He  also 
made  the  following  report :    "Time  em- 
ployed, 1  month  ;    number  of  appoint- 
ments, 4  ;  classes  formed,   1  ;   members 
received,  8.     Received  of  Brother  Peter 
Winton,  per  J.  Kemp,  $50  ;  received  of 
John    Lawrence,    SIO  ;    received    of    a 
friend  in  Tiflfin,  S3  ;   collection   on   the 
work,  $26  50  ;"  making  a  total  of  $89  50. 
The  Board  had  committed  themselves 
in  a  promise  to  send  a  preacher  to  assist 
Mr.  Sloane,  should  he,  upon  his  arrival 
in  California,  see  the  necessity  for  such 
help.     This  he  immediately  saw,  and  at 
once  urged  the  Board  to  send  help,     lie 
also  gave  them  liberty  to  use  anj^  money 
that   might  be  in  their  hands  for    him 
toward  paying  the  expense  of  sending 
the  missionary.     Let  it  be  remembered 
that  Mr.  Sloane  bore  his  own  expenses 
to  the  coast,  and  from  time  to  time  sold 
personal    property    to    sustain    himself 
and  the  family  that  a  kind  Providence 
placed  under  his  care.     "^IMiere   was  no 
hardship  too  great  for  him,  nor  sacrifice 
so   demanding    but  he   endured   or  suf- 
fered it  with  remarkable  fortitude.     We 
I  shall  speak  more  fully  of  his  labors  and 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


13 


privations  at  some  other  time.  We  do 
not  wish  to  glory,  save  in  the  Lord,  and 
if  God  permit,  in  his  (Sloane's)  afflic- 
tions and  sacrifices  for  the  cause  of  the 
Master.  The  anticipated  missionary 
from  the  East  did  not  come  as  it  had 
been  hoped.  But  buoyant  still,  he 
pressed  the  battle  into  the  camp  of  the 
enemy,  and  assisted  by  several  local 
brethren,  over  whose  efforts  he  watched 
and  prayed  without  intermission,  en- 
larging the  work  as  he  could  utilize 
the  laborers  until  in  a  very  few  years  he 
had  so  increased  the  working  force  that 
the  territory  was  divided  into  two  Pre- 
siding Elder  Districts — the  Sacramento 
and  the  Humboldt.  A  resident  Bishop 
was  also  argued,  and  finally  resulted  in 
sending  Eev.  D.  Shuck  to  the  various 
fields  on  the  coast,  embracing  Califor- 
nia, Oregon,  and  Walla  Walla  Confer- 
ences. By  this  time  the  work  had 
spread  out  through  the  valleys  and 
mountains,  and  the  demands  for  labor- 
ers became  so  great  that  the   "Mace- 


donian cry"  rang  out  in  clarion  tones, 
loud  and  shrill,  yet  mingled  with  an 
appealing  tenderness  too  pathetic  to 
pass  unheeded.  Every  letter  written 
by  Brother  Sloane  to  the  brethren  in 
the  East  was  but  another  appeal  for 
help.  Prayer  meetings  were  held  es- 
pecially in  the  interest  of  the  mission, 
and  both  East  and  West  the  ardent 
wishes  of  the  people  were  that  God 
would  send  out  men  and  means  to  sup- 
ply the  new  mission  on  the  frontier. 

Th®  death  of  Brother  Sloane  cast  a 
cloud  over  the  work,  and  greatly  em- 
barrassed the  mission,  so  that  when  the 
Bishop  arrived  he  found  the  work  some- 
what disorganized,  but  only  temporarily, 
as  the  people  needed  one  to  lead  them. 
Their  former  pastor  had  died  on  the 
field,  and  they  with  sad  hearts  were 
mourning  over  him  whom  they  dearly 
loved.  Bishop  Shuck  went  to  work  in 
earnest,  rallied  the  working  forces,  and 
soon  the  fields  were  again  supplied,  and 
things  moved  on  with  immediate  success. 


CHAPTER  III. 
TOEV.  D.  K.  FLICKINGBE  returned 
«=S)  from  Africa  in  1857,  on  the  account 
of  declining  health,  brought  about  by 
climatic  influences,  and  soon  took  the 
place  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Bright,  the  first  Cor- 
responding Secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Missions,  who  felt  the  necessity  of  rest 
from  the  excessive  toils  of  a  busy  life. 
Mr.  Flickinger,  like  his  predecessor, 
was  a  man  full  of  zeal,  and  well  calcu- 
lated to  fill  the  place  that  he  then  occu- 
pied, and,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year,  has  occupied  ever  since.  He  is  a 
ti'ied  friend  of  the  California  work, 
marking  its  progress,  studying  its 
wants,  and  doing  much  to  supply  its 
demands.  He  visited  the  coast  in  1871 
with  Bishop  Dixon,  and  by  his  trite 
way  of    asking   for  that,   the    love    of 


which  is  the  root  of  all  evil,  he  actu- 
ally opened  gold  and  silver  mines  in  the 
agricultural  districts— well,  he  discov- 
ered sulphates  of  "coin"  in  the  hearts 
of  the  people,  and  taught  how  to  "drift" 
into  the  way  of  getting  it  from  the 
"  mint."  Our  people  will  recognize  his 
friendly  face  given  here,  and  give  it  a 
place  in  the  medley  of  their  friends. 
His  appreciation  of  our  efforts,  and  his 
prompt  responses  to  our  demands,  and 
his  kindness  to  our  early  missionaries, 
have  endeared  him  to  us  and  lead  us  to 
give  him  a  small  place  in  this  history, 
and,  rest  assured,  a  large  place  in  our 
hearts. 

We  now  hasten  to  say  that  the  first 
properly  organized  class  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ  in  this  State  takes 
its  date  December  10th,  1858.     It  con- 


14 


History  of  the   United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  Culiforma. 


Bisted  of  eight  members,  and  was  organ- 
ized at  Putah  Creek,  in  Yolo  County. 
The  work  spread  rapidly,  under  the 
labors  of  Mr.  Sloane,  and  classes  were 
organized  in  several  places,  and  numer^ 
ous  preaching  places  established. 

The  first  Quarterly  Conference  was 
held  at  the  Putah  Creek  appointment, 
July  9th,  1859,  three  months  less  than 
one  3'ear  from  the  time  he  first  entered 
upon  the  work  The  following  is  a 
synopsis  of  the  official  report  of  that 
Conference: 

Members  present — I.  Sloane,  C.  Hub 
bard,D.  Troxel,  D.  Thompson,  A.  Cham- 
bers, W.  Johnson,  and  J.  Dollar — 7. 

After  singing  and  prayer,  Conference 
elected  I.  Sloane  Presiding  Elder  pro 
iem.,  and  A.  Chambers,  Secretjwy. 

Bro.  Stanlej",  of  the  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church,  was  introduced  to  the 
Conference.  A  general  examination 
was  presented,  which  resulted  favor- 
ably. The  license  of  Bro.  Thompson 
was  renewed,  miscellaneous  business 
attended  to,  and  the  following  resolu- 
tions passed: 

Ist.  "That  we  will  use  our  united  efforts  to  i)ut 
down  intemperance  in  our  country." 

2d.  "That  we  will  sustain  our  ministers  in  car- 
ryinoj  out  promptly  the  principles  of  the  Church 
on  secret  societies." 

.3d.  "Cliurch  festivals,  as  conducted  in  tliis 
country,  have,  in  our  opinion,  a  demoralizinij  influ- 
ence upon  society  in  <j;'eneral,  and  a  tendency  to 
lower  the  standard  of  piety,  if  not  to  destroy  it 
entirely;  therefore.  Resolved,  Tliat  we,  as  a  Quar- 
terly Conference,  will  throw  our  entire  influence 
a/ijainst  them." 

The  second  Quarterly  Conference  was 
held  at  Monument,  on  the  30th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1859.  The  following  names 
appear  on  the  Journal:  I.  Sloan,  D. 
Thompson,  W.  Wilsej',  Alex.  Chambers, 
M.  Powell,  Nelson  Dunning,  L.  Dun- 
ning, C.  Hubbard,  D.  Troxel,  J.  Dollar, 
William  Swinuey,  and  W.  Johnson — 12. 
Here  we  find  an  increase  of  five  in  the 
official  board  of  the  district. 


REV.  1).    K.    FlJCKIN'tiKR. 

At  the  third  official  meeting,  in  1859, 
we  find  the  names  of  J.  Patterson  and 
J.  Roderick  added  to  the  roll. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  1863,  the 
work  had  so  enlarged  that  when  the 
roll  was  completed  from  the  various 
classes,  the  names  of  twenty  jive  official 
members  appeared,  and  from  the  little 
class  of  eight,  organized  on  the  10th  of 
December,  1858,  there  had  sprung  up  a 
membership  of  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty.  During  this  time  the  names  of 
Revs.  A.  Musselman,  J.  Dollarhide,  and 
J.  H.  Mayfield  were  added  to  the  list  of 
preachers,  making  five  in  all.  Space 
forbids  us  to  enter  the  spread  of  the 
work,  save  to  say  that  in  August,  1863, 
there  were  fourteen  preachers  enrolled, 
and  a  membership  of  al)out  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  five. 

In  the  Quarterly  Conference  journal 
of  December  16th,  1860,  the  following 
minute  appears:  "On  motion  it  was 
agreed  that  the  brethren  be  advised  to 
meet  and  organize  into  an  Annual  Con- 
ference prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  next 
Quarterly    Conference."      Sloane    waa 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in   Christ  in  California. 


15 


appointed  to  call  the  brethren  together 
for  the  organization  of  that  Conference. 
We  here  give  the  most  important  items 
of  the  first  Annual  Conference  held  by 
the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

At    the     First    Annual     Conference 
steps  were  taken  to  be  recognized  as  a 
mission  district  by  the  Genei-al  Confer- 
ence, as  the  minutes  below  indicate: 
FIRST  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE. 

According  to  appoiutmeut  the  preacliers  of  the 
(Jhurch  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  met  at 
D.  Troxel's,  .January  IGtli,  A.  D.  1861,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  orgauizing-  into  a  Conference  in  California. 
There  were  present  I.  Sloane,  then  Superintendent 
of  California  Mission  under  the  direction  of  the 
Missionary  Board;  D.  'i  hompson,  formerly  from 
Missouri,  and  J.  DoUarhide,  of  the  Iowa  Confer- 
ence. After  the  usual  preliminaries  I.  Sloane  was 
elected  Bishop  pro  tern.,  and  D.  Troxel  Chairman, 
and  I.  Sloane  Secretary.  An  examination  of  moral 
and  othcial  character  resulted  favorably.  Tlie 
standing  in  society  officially  was  inquired  into, 
whereupon  it  was  found  tliat  I.  Sloane  was  regu- 
larly recognized  in  California  by  tlie  Church.  D. 
Thompson  had  long  lield  preaching  license  and 
was  last  a  member  of  the  Missouri  Mission  Con- 
ference of  the  U.  B.  Church,  but  had  been  absent 
for  some  time,  and  now  holds  a  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence license  in  California.  J.  DoUarhide  is  a  mem- 
ber of  tlie  Iowa  Conference,  but  instructions  have 
been  received  from  D.  K.  Fliclvenger,  Secretary  of 
the  Missionary  Board  to  employ  him  on  the  Califor- 
nia work.  Whereupon  it  was  resolved  to  organize 
ourselves  into  a  mission  conference — the  Califor- 
nia Mission  Conference  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ — and  aslc  the  General  Conference,  to  set  in 
May  next,  to  constitute  us  a  Mission  Conference. 
The  work  formerly  occupied  by  I.  Sloane  was 
divided  as  follows:  All  west  of  Sacramento  River, 
including  Cache  and  Putah  Creeks,  to  constitute 
one  work,  to  be  called  Yolo  and  Solano  Mission. 
All  below  said  city,  including  the  Cumberland 
appointment,  to  constitute  a  mission  to  be  called 
Sacramento  Mission.  All  above  Sacramento  City 
to  be  called  Dry  Creek  Mission.  Sacramento  ('ity 
to  be  occupied  as  a  mission,  if  a  supply  can  be  had- 

Appointments:  I.  Sloane  was  elected  Presiding 
Elder;  J.  DoUarhide,  Yolo  and  Solano  Mission; 
D.  Thompson,  Sacramento  Mission;  I.  Sloane,  Dry 
Creek. 

After  prayer  by  D.  Troxel,  Conference  adjourned. 
I.  Sloane,  Secretary. 


SECOND  ANNUAL  CONFEBENCE. 
The  second  Annual  Conference  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren, of  California,  met  at  Sloane's  School-house, 
Yolo  County,  September  13th,  1862;  Sloane  in  the 
chair.  Bro.  DoUarhide  conducted  the  devotional 
exercises. 

Members  present  I.  Sloane,  B.  B.Allen.  A.  Mus- 
selman,  William  Dresser,  D.  Thompson,  and  J,  Dol- 
larhide.  The  organization  was  comple  ed  by  electing 
William  Dresser,  Secretary. 

Bro.  Allen  reported  Solano  Mission  as  having 
twenty-nine  members  at  the  end  of  the  year.  He 
also  reported  $36  45,  Presiding  Elder's  salary.  Time 
employed,  four  months. 

iMusselman  and  Dresser  were  elected  to  receive 
Elder's  orders.  The  appointed  Committee  nn  Bound- 
ariea  brought  in  their  report,  which  was  adopted. 

Dresser  reported  Yolo  Mission  as  having  twenty 
members  at  the  end  of  the  year.  Two  classes  were 
in  an  organized  condition;  one  Telescope  was  taken, 
and  eleven  months  had  been  employed. 

The  correction  of  the  itinerant  list  resulted  in  the 
following  names:  I.  Sloane,  A.  Musselmsin,  J.  Dol- 
larhide,  and  William  Dresser. 

Sloane  and  Musselman  were  elected  Presiding  El- 
ders, Sloane  being  appointed  to  Humboldt  and  Mus- 
selman to  Sacramento  Valley  District. 

On  motion,  each  preacher,  whether  traveling  or 
local,  was  to  preach  a  sermon  on  missions  during  the 
year,  and  use  every  laudable  means  to  obtain  mis- 
sionary money.  Also,  to  establish  Sabbath  Schools- 
Bro.  Allen  was  appointed  to  preach  a  missionary 
sermon  during  the  session. 

The  Committee  to  Station  the  Preachers  consisted 
of  three,  viz.,  Musselman,  Allen,  and  Sioane,  the 
Bishop  pio  tern. 

By  motion,  the  Book  Concern  was  requested  to  do- 
nate 1400  in  Hymn-books,  Disciplines,  and  Harps  (a 
revival  song  book). 

The  place  of  holding  the  next  Conference  was  left 
to  the  Presiding  Elders. 

Conference  then  adjourned. 

Revs.  Alexander,  Musselman,  and  William  Dresser 
were  solemnly  ordained  to  the  office  of  Elder  after  the 
morning  sermon  on  Sabbath,  September  14th,  by 
the  Bishop  pro  tent.,  assisted  by  Revs.  J.  DoUarhide 
and  B.  B.  Allen. 

The  above  is  but  a  synopsis  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  second  Conference. 

The  Discipline  makes  the  following 
provision  for  a  mission  district: 

VIII.  A  mission  district  shall  consist  of  two  or 
more  fields  of  labor,  outside  the  bounds  of  an 
Annual  Conference.  Its  annual  sessions  shall  be 
presided  over  by  a  Bishop,  or  an  Elder  appointed 


16 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in   Calif ornia. 


by  the  Board  uf  Missions.  At  these  annual  meet- 
ings tlie  boundaries  of  fields  of  labor  shall  be 
fixed,  the  cliaracterof  members  examined,  preach- 
ers may  be  received,  examined,  and  passed  on 
course  of  reading,  and  be  ordained.  A  Presiding 
Elder  may  be  elected,  if  the  Board  of  Missions  so 
advise,  and  ministers  appointed  to  till  the  tields  of 
labor  by  the  Presiding  Elder. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1861.  Sloane 
writes  to  the  Corresponding  Secretary 
of  the  Board  of  Missions:  "  Bro.  F.  : 
I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  say  that  our 
work  is  in  a  fine  condition.  We  have 
three  missions  supplied  with  preachers, 
and  one  that  is  without  supply.  *  *  * 
We  have  taken  the  precaution  to  get 
ourselves  into  a  proper  shape  to  be 
received  liy  the  General  Conference  as 
a  regular  Mission  Conference.  Really, 
we  have  held  an  Annual  Conference, 
and  consider  ourselves  in  regular  order, 
We  ask  to  be  received  under  the  name 
of  the  California  Mission  Conference  of 
the  United  Brethren  in  Christ." 

Under  date  of  September  15th,  1862, 
he  writes  to  the  Telescope,  saying:  "  We 
closed  the  business  of  our  Annual  Con- 
ference late  last  Saturday  evening.  *  * 
Wo  had  a  pleasant  interview  of  three 
days,  during  which  we  went  through 
with  all  the  business,  as  provided  by  the 
Discipline.  We  number  six  preachers, 
and  have  constituted  six  missions.  We 
also  have  two  Presiding  Elder  dis- 
tricts. It  fails  my  lot  to  go  to  Hum- 
boldt, a  distance  of  three  hundred  and 
forty  miles  across  the  Coast  Eange 
Mountains." 

But  finally  the  United  Brethren  his- 
tory gives  the  Ibllovving  statement  rela- 
tive to  Mr.  Sloane  and  the  California 
District;  "He  entered  upon  the  work, 
and  labored  with  so  much  success  that 
in  18G1  the  General  Conference  recognized 
California  as  a  Mission  Conference  Dis- 
trict. Mr.  Sloane  reported  recently 
three  or  four  fields  of  labor,  all  of 
which  were  supplied,  and  a  number  of 


good  societies  organized.  The  spirit  of 
enterprise  which  characterized  Mr.  S. 
in  the  establishment  of  the  mission  is 
worthy  of  all  praise." 

The  report  below  also  appears  among 
the  statistics  of  the  various  fields  of 
labor,  as  reported  to  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1861: 

"Preaching  places,  20;  classes,  6; 
members,  75;  itinerant  preachers,  2." 

Let  us  now  draw  aside  awhile,  and 
view  the  loneliness  of  a  home,  brought 
about  by  the  death  of  Sister  Sarah 
Sloane.  She  died  on  the  2d  of  March, 
1859,  at  the  residence  of  Bro.  Chauncey 
Hubbard,  in  Yolo  County,  California. 
Her  disease  was  consumption.  Bro. 
Lawrance,  then  editor  of  the  Telescope, 
wrote  the  sad  storj-  of  her  sufferings 
and  final  departure,  an  extract  frora 
which  we  here  give.  After  speaking  of 
her  as  an  intelligent  woman,  and  of  the 
success  of  Bro.  Sloane  and  his  amiable 
companion,  he  said:  "At  the  last  meet- 
ing of  the  Mission  Board  they  were 
appointed  to  California,  where  she  now 
sleeps  in  Jesus.  During  her  itinerant 
career  she  never  refused  to  go  to  any  of 
the  fields  to  which  her  husband  was  ap- 
pointed, and  when  she  had  no  idea  of 
living  long  she  freely  consented  to  go 
to  California,  which,  she  said,  'was  only 
fur  the  sake  of  souls.'" 

Her  husband  wrote,  March  9th :  "  My 
wife  is  no  more.  She  bore  her  afflic- 
tion with  composure,  and  in  its  close 
gave  as  strong,  if  not  the  strongest  evi- 
dence of  being  fully  ripe  for  heaven,  that 
I  ever  witnessed.  Many  persons  here 
will  long  remember  the  day  previous  to 
her  death."  Bro.  Sloane  was  left  with 
his  little  children  alone,  and  that,  too, 
in  a  strange  land.  "  I  have  never 
known,"  said  he,  "  what  trouble  was 
before."  The  mother  of  his  home  was 
gone,  and   he  could   but  take  his  little 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


17 


ones  and  press  them  to  his  sad  heart, 
and  kiss  their  tear-moistened  cheeks, 
and  exclaim: 

"Home  is  sad  without  a  mother!" 

Hear  him,  as  he  says,  "How  sweet  is 
rest  to  a  laboring  and  tired  man.  How 
pleasant,  also,  to  have  some  place  we 
can  call  home,  to  retreat  to  for  rest. 
Once  I  had  a  home  of  my  own,  but  that 
is  no  more.  Death  has  broken  it  up. 
How  transient  are  all  things  on  earth! 
How  short  our  enjoyment  of  them! 
But  there  is  a  "home  in  heaven,"  a 
'rest  for  the  weary,"  and 

"  Soon,  with  my  pilgrimage  ended  below, 
Home  to  the  rest  of  delight  will  I  go." 

He  made  a  visit  to  the  Bast  in  1860, 
leaving  San  Francisco  April  fifth,  and 
after  a  very  pleasant  and  profitable  stay 
among  his  friends,  he  returned,  arriving 
at  San  Francisco  on  the  twenty -seventh 
of  May,  after  an  absence  of  eight  weeks. 
This  was  nearly  fifteeu  months  after 
the  death  of  his  companion.  "His 
home  is  again  built  up,  and  with  a  dear 
friend  and  helpmeet"  he  enters  the 
work  with  a  heart  full  of  gratefulness 
to  the  Giver  of  All  that  he  is  permitted 
to  live  and  labor  for  Jesus,  The  life 
and  toils  of  Israel  Sloane  and  his  fel- 
low laborers  would  of  themselves  make 
a  volume  worthy  a  place  among  the 
biographical  sketches  in  any  library. 
He  won  the  esteem  of  all  his  people. 
The  ministers  found  in  him  a  true  friend, 
and  gathered  around  him  eager  to  catch 
a  word  from  his  lips. 

At  the  Conference  in  September,  1862, 
he  was  appointed  to  Humboldt  County, 
to  which  he  immediately  went,  simply 
saying,  "  It  falls  to  my  lot  to  go  to  Hum- 
boldt Bay,  a  distance  of  340  miles  from 
Sacramento."  The  work  in  Sacramento 
Valley  was  then  in  a  prosperous  condi- 
tion, but  no  sooner  had  Brother  Sloane 


gone  from  the  valley  than  the  workers 
ceased  to  manifest  their  former  zeal  for 
the  cause,  and  it  soon  began  to  wither 
like  a  neglected  plant  in  a  noon  day  sun. 
Some  of  the  men  went  into  secular  pur- 
suits, some  into  the  army,  and  one  of 
whom  we  shall  speak  again  broke  up 
an  entire  class  of  about  thirty  members. 
A  good  sister  in  writing  from  Califor- 
nia to  the  Telescope  upon  the  topic : 
"  Why  are  not  preachers  at  their 
posts?"  said  many  good  things,  among 
which  was  the  following:  "I  some- 
times fear  some  refrain  from  an  entire 
consecration  to  God  lest  some  new  duty 
will  be  required  of  them.  The  glory  of 
God  and  the  upbuilding  of  His  kingdom 
in  the  world  seems  not  quite  sufficient 
to  induce  them  to  exchange  the  pleas- 
ures of  a  religious,  educated,  and  well- 
refined  community  for  the  ignorance, 
superstition,  and  wickedness  of  one 
that  has  not  enjoyed  like  advantages. 
What  a  backwardness  to  thrust  out ! 
Just  as  if  we  were  afraid  of  starving  if 
we  should  get  away  from  home  !  Why, 
it  really  seems  that  some  are  afraid  of 
gettmg  out  of  the  hearing  of  their 
grandmother's  dinner  horn  for  fear 
that  things  will  not  just  go  to  their 
notion,  and  they  be  reduced  to  want. 
O,  what  a  lack  of  faith  !"  This  good 
sister  is  still  among  us,  and  is  one  of 
God's  true  and  tried  servants. 

Mr.  S.  was  informed  in  a  letter  from 
a  friend  and  member  of  our  cause  in 
Sacramento  Valley  that  he  had  better 
come  at  once  to  see  to  the  work  in  the 
valley,  as  it  was  suffering  greatly  for 
want  of  laborers  and  because  of  deser- 
tion. He  started  at  once,  leaving  his 
home  on  Eel  River  in  Humboldt  County 
on  the  twenty-third  of  June.  The  In- 
dians were  very  hostile  at  that  time, 
which  made  it  dangerous  to  travel 
through  the  mountains,  but  fortunately 


18 


History  of  the   United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  Qdiforim. 


the  stage  was  about  to  cross  with  an 
escort  of  armed  men,  and  he  came  over 
with  them.  He  arrived  at  the  head  of 
Berryess  Valley,  in  Napa  County,  at  the 
residence  of  a  Mr.  Adams,  about  seven 
miles  from  Knoxville,  safely. 

At  this  place  his  horse  had  its  leg 
broken  by  a  vicious  mustang  in  the 
corral,  so  that  he  had  to  get  another 
horse  to  continue  his  journey.  There 
was  something  strange  about  this  new 
horse — at  least,  Bro.  Sloane  thought  so, 
and  feared  to  ride  him;  but  the  boys  of 
the  ranch  rode  him,  and  urged  that  the 
horse  was  safe.  It  was  a  mustang.  He 
started  next  morning,  being  a  good  rider, 
and  found  his  horse  to  go  along  quietly 
until  he  went  to  make  the  descent  of 
Cache  Creek  Mountains,  when  it  started 
running  down  the  grade  in  a  stiff  and 
unmanageable  way,  jolting  the  rider  at 
every  leap.  It  was  not  possible  for  him 
to  stop  the  horse,  nor  throw  himself 
from  the  saddle,  as  there  was  danger  of 
being  thrown  over  the  precipice  and 
dashed  to  death  upon  the  rocks  below. 
He  was  picked  up  at  the  foot  of  the 
grade,  in  a  helpless  condition,  and  con- 
veyed to  the  residence  of  Nelson  Dun- 
ning, who  then  lived  where  Oscar  Blodg- 
ett  now  lives,  near  Prairie,  in  Yolo 
County,  a  distance  of  about  thirty-five 
miles  from  where  he  was  picked  up,  and 
about  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  miles 
from  his  home.  All  of  the  care  that 
could  be  given  was  extended  to  him. 
He  remained  three  weeks  and  then  went 
to  visit  other  brethren  in  the  valley, 
among  them  Bro.  C.  Hubbard.  Mr. 
Sloan  was  fatally  hurt.  After  the  time 
arrived  for  him  to  have  returned  home, 
his  wife  began  to  feel  uneasy  concern- 
ing him.  The  writer  heard  her  relate 
the  sad  story  of  the  lonely  days  and 
nights  of  waiting  for  him.  She  thought 
of  him  continually.     What  could  have 


befallen  him?  Perhaps  he  is  lost  in  the 
mountains,  or  has  taken  sick  away  from 
any  one  to  care  for  him.  It  may  be 
that  he  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
Indians,  and  is  now  a  captive,  or  was, 
perhaps,  cruelly  put  to  death  by  them! 
She  finally  received  a  letter  from  him, 
stating  that  he  was  coming  home,  but 
still  he  did  not  come.  In  another  note 
he  stated  again  that  he  was  coming 
home,  but  did  not  say  that  he  was  sick. 
On  the  first  of  August  he  wrote  that  he 
would  start  on  the  sixth ;  but  still  he  did 
not  come.  Day  after  day  passed  by, 
and  the  hours  of  the  night  seemed  like 
they  would  not  pass.  Every  footstep 
was  heard  upon  the  road,  and  in  them 
the  wife,  with  restless  anxiety,  hoped 
to  recognize  the  familiar  step  at  the 
door.  She  heard  the  footsteps  of  horses 
coming  near  the  dwelling,  and  rushing 
to  the  door,  with  an  indescribable  feel- 
ing, heard  a  voice  speaking  to  the  horses' 
but  not  the  voice  of  her  husband.  There 
was  a  sense  of  fearful  foreboding  that 
flashed  upon  her  mind,  followed  by  a 
quick  feeling  of  unmolested  expectancy. 
It  was  after  midnight  on  the  Slst  of 
August.  Who  can  be  coming?  Is  it 
he?  Then  a  voice  said,  in  broken  ac- 
cents: "Your  husband  is  in  Eureka, 
lying  at  the  point  of  death."  She 
reached  his  side  at  four  o'clock  that 
morning.  He  put  his  children  into  her 
care.  Of  the  California  work  he  said: 
"All  of  my  spiritual  interest  I  leave  in 
your  cai'e,  through  Christ.  If  you  can 
use  any  argument  to  get  some  one  here 
to  take  full  charge  of  the  work,  do  it." 
He  died  triumphantly. 

The  following,  from  a  Eureka  paper, 
will  be  of  interest: 

"  Died,  at  Williams'  Hotel,  Eureka,  on  Monday, 
August  .3l9t,  186;^,  Rev.  Israel  Slo.ane,  minister  of  the 
Uniteil  Brethren  Church,  lociited  Inct  year  on  Eel 
River,  in  this  oounty. 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in   Christ  in  California. 


19 


"Rev.  Mr.  Sloane  went  below  some  two  months 
since,  and  his  long  delay  caused  alarm  to  his  family, 
ccnsisting  of  wife  and  three  children,  whom  he  left 
on  Eel  River. 

"  On  the  30th  day  of  August  he  came  on  the 
steamer,  sick  and  apparently  near  to  death.  He  was 
carried  to  Williams'  Hotel,  from  whence  he  sent  for 
the  undersigned,  who  immediately  sent  for  his  wife, 
who  arrived  the  morning  of  the  31st,  at  four  o'clock. 
After  the  arrival  of  his  wife  his  mind  was  most  of  the 
time  incoherent,  but  he  enjoyed  lucid  intervals,  du- 
ring which  he  conversed  with  her,  and  bade  adieu  to 
friends,  and  expressed  a  willingness  to  depart  and  be 
with  Christ,  which  was  far  better. 

"  Several  of  his  friends  from  Eel  River  and  members 
from  his  Church,  were  prompt  in  coming  to  his  assist- 
ance, and  conveyed  his  remains  to  Eel  River  for 
burial. 

"  Peace  to  the  memory  of  a  good  man  and  a  faithful 
servant  of  Christ.  Blessing  upon  his  afflicted  widow 
and  fatherless  children.  Truly,  the  community  that 
shall  favor  them  in  th  ir  afflictions  shall  inherit  a 
blessing.  A.  J.  Huestis. 

"  Eureka,  September  4th,  1863." 

The  following  letter  was  written  to 
the  Religious  Telescope,  by  Sister  Sloane, 
September  6th,  1863: 

Dear  Bro.  Lawrence:  My  husband, 
your  missionury  to  California,  is  no 
more.  He  left  this  world  in  ihe  tri- 
urajjhs  of  a  living  faith,  August  31st. 
He  left  home,  June  23d,  for  Sacramento 
Valley,  expressly  to  look  after  the  in- 
terests of  the  Church.  He  wrote  fre- 
quently while  there,  but  said  nothing 
respecting  his  health.  August  first  he 
wrote  me  that  he  should  start  home 
the  sixth.  I  heard  nothing  more  till 
the  thirtieth,  Avhen  the  word  came, 
''Your  husband  is  in  Eureka,  lying  at 
the  point  of  death!"  Truly,  this  is  the 
most  trj'ing  time  with  me  I  have  ever 
experienced;  but  I  must  meekly  bow 
beneath  the  chastening  rod.  My  com- 
panion trusted  me  with  the  care  of 
his  three  little  ones  (children  of  his 
former  wife),  saying,  "Keep  them!" 
and  they  are  now  dependent  on  me  both 
for  a  father's  and  a  mother's  care. 

Of  the  California  work  he  said  :  "All 
my  spiritual  interests  I  leave  in  your 
care  through  Christ.  If  you  can  use  any 
argument  to  get  some  one  here  to  take  full 
charge  of  the  work,  do  it."  The  Califoi"- 
nia  work  cannot  stand  alone.     Shall  we 


let  it  go  down,  brother,  or  may  we 
hope,  trust,  yea  believe,  that  help  will 
be  forthcoming  ?  I  believe  Conference 
was  appointed  the  last  of  October. 
Three  or  four  Quarterly  Conference 
preachers  were  going  to  join  the  An- 
nual Conference  from  this  mission.  I 
do  not  know  now  that  even  the  Annual 
Conference  will  meet.  My  post  office  ad- 
bress  will  be  Sacramento  City,  Califor- 
nia. Decintiiia  H.  Sloane. 
Hydesville,  Cal.,  Sept.  6th,  1863. 

When  Ave  first  knew  Brother  Sloane 
he  was  a  student  at  Oberlin.  He  after- 
ward became  a  member  of  the  Scioto 
Conference,  from  which  he  was  sent  by 
the  Missionary  Board  to  Canada.  Of 
his  success  in  Canada  the  Church  has 
been  informed.  After  the  Canada  work 
was  well  established  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia at  his  own  expense.  Of  bis  toils 
and  sufferings  there  we  cannot  now 
speak.  We  commend  to  the  attention 
of  the  Missionary  Board  the  letter  of 
his  excellent  wife. — [Editor. 

"Victorious  his  fall — for  he  rose  as  he  fell, 
With  Jesus  his  Master  in  glory  to  dwell  : 
He   passed  o'er  the  stream,  and  has  reached   the 

bright  coast — 
For  he  fell  like  a  martyr — he  died  at  his  post." 

The  death  of  Missionary  Sloane  was 
a  heavy  stroke  for  the  new  mission  to 
bear.  Numei'ous  appointments  were 
out  in  Humboldt,  where  he  had  been 
announced.  It  seemed  as  though  the 
whole  arm  of  missionary  operation  had 
been  paralyzed.  The  uncertainties  of 
expectancy  brooded  over  the  whole 
field.  "Sloane,  is  dead,"  was  the  cry 
among  the  dear,  good  people.  The 
news  reaches  the  East,  and  sorrow  was 
felt  throughout  the  entire  Church.  The 
Canada  Mission,  where  he  had  spent 
nearly  four  years,  and  of  which  he  was 
the  first  missionary,  felt  the  stroke 
deeply.  But  blessed  be  God  !  his  man- 
tle fell  from  his  shoulders  upon  some 
who,  like  Elisha,  watched  the  chariot 


20 


History  of  the   United  Brethren  in  Christ  in   Oilifornia. 


bearing  away  his  Lord.  The  Harrow  move.  We  linger  about  the  path  thickly 
brothers — John  W.,  Noah  W.,  and  El-  1  marked  with  the  footprints  of  our  fallen 
more  Harrow — staid  with  the  work,  hero,  and  memory  scans  the  work  of  his 
and  had  unprecedented  success.  j  life,  while  the  heart  attempts  to  ante- 

But  what   now  ?     The  vibrations   of  i  date   the   day  when  the   empty  hearts 


the  voice  of  death  have  not  yet  ceased. 
The  very  ground  seems  sacred  with  the 
treasured  dead,  while  the  warm  Avords 
from  the  lips  now  still  in  death  hover 
over  us,  like  so  many  messengers  of 
mere}',  to  urge  us  on  and  aid  us  as  we 


and  disappointed  hopes  shall  again  be 
revived. 

•'  Shall  jhe_ves  lie  there  uiigathered, 
And  waste  upon  the  plain?" 


CHAPTER  IV. 
]HE  death  of  Israel  Sloane  prevented 
the  next  annual  assembly  of  the 
missionaries  in  1863,  but  his  appoint- 
ments in  Humboldt  were  filled  by  the 
Harrow  brothers— .L  W.  and  N.  W.  The 
meeting  at  Matole  resulted  in  several  ac- 
cessions to  the  Church.  The  one  at  Eel 
River,  commencing  September  S-ith,  1863, 
and  continuing  for  three  weeks,  resulted 
in  above  forty  conversions  and  twenty- 
niTie  accessions  to  the  Church.  This  mis- 
sion had  stood  but  ont  year,  and  had  in 
so  shoit  a  time  gathered  into  its  fold  a 
meinbersliij)  numbering  seventy-two. 
The  work  in  the  Sacramento  Valley  was 
without  a  supply;  the  laity,  however, 
with  few  exceptions,  were  faithful  men 
and  women,  and  used  every  exertion  to 
keep  up  the  work  until  the  Bishop  ap- 
pointed to  the  coast  would  arrive. 

Let  it  here  be  remarked  that  the  laity 
of  the  California  Conference  have  more 
credit  in  building  up  and  sustaining  their 
oft  neglected  vineyard  than  many  who 
were  duly  appointed  to  f!ll  that  mission. 
Prominent  among  them  are  the  names  of 
I)ecir\tha  H.  Sloane,  Emma  Day,  Phoebe 
Huntley,  Chauncey  Hubbard,  N.  Dun- 
ning, D.  Troxel,  Alex.  Chambers,  Alfred 
H.  Cowell,  J.  Dollar,  and  L.  Dunning, 
and  a  host  of  others.  Many  of  them  are 
still  with  us,  while  some  have  gone  to 
the  home  of  the  people  of  God.     Their 


work  is  not  j^et  consum  uated.  "God 
having  provided  some  better  thing  for 
us  that  they  without  us  should  not  be 
made  perfect." 


^' 


REV.    DAMKL    SHUCK. 

Rev.  Daniel  Sliuck  was  elected  Bishop 
of  the  Pacific  coast  at  the  General  Con- 
ference in  1861,  but  owing  to  the  unset- 
tled condition  of  our  country  did  not  go 
until  in  December,  1863.  He  was  re- 
elected in  1865.  His  arrival  here  was 
an  occasion  of  joy.  The  people  began 
to  look  up  again,  thanking  God  and  tak- 
ing courage.  The  writer  can  find  no 
betrer  language  to  express  his  arrival 
and  the  pleasure  of  the  people  than  that 
found  in  the  journal  of  the  Rev.  C.  W. 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


21 


Gillett,  one  of  the  preachers  of  the  Con- 
ference:  "The  Harrow  brothers  were  the 
only  ones  in  the  ministry  who  were  doing 
anything  at  all  for  the  cause,  conse- 
quently when  the  Bishop  arrived,  the 
Church  was  almost  in  a  disorganized 
state,  but  a  change  was  soon  visible. 
Letters  were  written  from  frietid  to 
friend, 'The  Bishop  has  come  !'  Those 
who  had  been  predicting  the  certain  de- 
mise of  the  Church  changed  their  opinions, 
while  the  true  friends  of  the  cause  re- 
joiced, and  deserters  felt  like  returning 
to  their  former  allegiance." 

Bro.  Shuck  visited  the  various  fields 
of  labor  during  the  Spring  and  Summer 
of  '64,  so  that  by  November,  the  time 
appointed  for  the  Annual  Conference, 
the  work  began  to  assume  a  more  de- 
sirable attitude.  The  Conference  was 
held  in  the  Monument  School-house. 
The  minutes  below  will  give  the  reader 
a  synopsis  of  the  transactions  of  that 
Conference.  But  before  we  give  them, 
let  us  read  the  opening  address  of  the 
Bishop. 

ADDaESS    OF    BISHOP   D.    SHUCK. 

Dear  Brethren  :  It  has  been  with 
more  than  unusual  interest  and  anxiety, 
that  I  have  looked  forward  to  this  pe- 
riod. Various  questions  have  presented 
themselves  to  my  mind  from  time  to 
time,  as  I  have  anticipated  this  meet- 
ing— the  important  duties  connected 
with  it,  and  the  consequences  likely  to 
follow,  if  the  machinery  can  on\y  be 
put  in  proper  motion.  I  feel  that  we 
need  a  portion  of  that  wisdom  which  is 
from  above,  to  direct  us  in  our  deliber- 
ations. For  this  wisdom  we  should  all 
unitedly  pra3^  The  regular  organiza- 
tion of  a  conference  is  an  important 
crisis.  The  gathering  into  one  body  a 
number  of  approved  Ministers  of  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  purpose 


of  enjoying  each  others'  mutual  coun- 
sel, advice,  and  exhortations,  and  to  sj^s- 
temize  and  regulate  each  others'  labors 
from  year  to  year,  is  a  very  responsible 
work ;  for  this,  I  believe,  is  the  first 
regTilar  meeting  of  a  series  of  meetings 
— only,  I  hope,  increasingly  interesting 
for  years,  perhaps  for  centuries,  to 
come,  till  "  time  shall  be  no  more." 
What  a  thought !  What  had  better  be 
done  now  ?  What  plans  ?  Who  ought 
to  go  here,  and  who  there,  as  laborers? 
What  steps  can  be  taken  which  may  be 
the  most  likely  to  carry  us  the  farthest 
in  the  right  direction?  These,  with 
many  other  questions  of  vital  interest 
to  the  prosper] t}'  of  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity, as  connected  with  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  naturally  arise  in 
every  mind  which  feels  interested  in 
this  cause.  There  is  one  temptation 
which  must  be  met  and  overcome  at 
once,  or  we  will  be  shorn  of  our 
strength,  and  we  will  not  jiush  the  bat- 
tle to  certain  victory.  The  temptation  to 
which  I  refer,  is  this  :  "  There  is  no 
need  for  the  United  Brethren  in  Cali- 
fornia. Other  churches  have  planted 
themselves  iu  the  most  prominent  local- 
ities, and  are  defending  and  maintain- 
ing the  doctrine  and  institutions  of 
Christianity,  and  there  is  no  need  in 
the  United  Brethren  making  sacrifices 
and  expending  money  and  labor  to 
build  up  societies.  Those  churches 
which  are  already  established,  can  do 
all  the  work  at  less  cost ;  and  if  they 
cannot  persuade  the  people  to  be  saved 
there  is  no  use  in  others  trying  "  This 
reasoning,  at  the  first  view,  seems  veiy 
plausible,  but  is  based  on  false  assump- 
tions. We,  as  a  Church,  do  not  pro- 
pose making  a  crusade  upon  other 
churches.  This  is  no  part  of  our  mis- 
sion. It  would  be  contrary  to  the  an- 
tecedents of  this    Church.     She    never 


22 


Hi&iory  of  the   United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  Qdifor/ua. 


manifested^  a  disposition  to  call  for  fire 
from  Heaven  to  destroy  any  who  are 
doing  good — casting  down  evil — because 
they  followed  not  us.     But,   upon    the 
contrary,  we  will  ever  feel  to  bid  God- 
speed, to  all  who  gather  with   Christ, 
and  rejoice  in  their  spiritual  prosperity 
— for  all  are  one  in  Christ.     But   there 
are  persons  on  this  coast  who,  Irom  for- 
mer associations,  feel  endeared  to  our 
principles,    manner  of  teaching,    relig- 
ious usages  and  church  government ;  so 
much  so,  that  they  cannot  feel  at  home 
anywhere  else.     We  owe  it  to  such  that 
we  organize  and  operate  systematically, 
and,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  efficiently. 
Again,    the  long  cherished  position   of 
this  Church  on  the  great  moral  question 
of  slavery  and  secrec}',  now  commend 
themselves  to  the   favorable    consider- 
ation   and    the    enlightened    judgment 
of  many  in  and  out  of  the  Church,  to  a 
degree  that  it  never  has  before.     While 
other  denominations  have  been  troubled, 
perplexed,  and  torn  to  pieces  in  adjusting 
themselves  to  the  varied  and  ever  chang- 
ing demands  of  pro-slaveryism,  the  United 
Brethren    in    Christ,    though    little    and 
seemingly  vinUnovvn,  always  maintained, 
with  a  scripturally  eidightened  consnien- 
tious    firmness,    her    anti-slavery    princi- 
ples, in  theory  and  practice.     And,  now 
while  the  moral  tone  of"  public  sentiment 
is  being  purifnid  so  as  to  demand  non- 
fellowship  with  slavery  in  the  civil  com- 
pact,  and    many    Churches    are    making 
sudden  revolutions  atid  are  wheeling  into 
the  ranks  and  are  spreading  the   fact  of 
their    conversion    to    the    four    winds    to 
catch  the  gale,  the  United   Brethren  in 
Christ  are  marching   straight  along,  re- 
joicing to  know  that  the   world  moves, 
and  that  the  move  is  now  in  the  right 
direction. 

This  fact  speaks  to  us  to  go  forward 
and  do  our  duty.     But  the  most  impor- 


tant consideration  is  the  state  of  morals 
and  of  spiritual  religion  on  this  coast. 
Heligion,  which  is  merely  conventional 
and  ceremonial,  docs  not  meet  the 
wants  of  our  race — does  not  meet  the 
demands  of  the  people  of  this  State. 
The  natural  tendency  of  our  race  is  to 
degeneracy  ;  and  downward,  and  still 
downward,  man  goes,  unless  restrained 
and  called  back  by  supernatural  influ- 
ences ;  he  needs  a  spiritual  birth,  in 
order  to  live  a  higher  life.  This  life 
calls  its  possessors  to  separate  them- 
selves from  the  associations  of  the 
wicked  and  foolish,  to  come  out  from 
among  the  unbelieving  in  every  respect 
except  where  duty  calls  ;  a  life  which 
leads  to  a  non  conformity  to  the  max- 
ims, prejudices,  and  customs  of  the 
world,  and  a  transformation  to  the 
image  of  Christ.  The  standard  of  a 
higher  life  in  Christ,  of  holiness  to  the 
Lord,  needs  to  be  raised  higher,  so  that 
the  people  may  be  gathered  unto  it. 
This  is  our  principal  mission.  Christ 
and  him  crucified  is  our  central  idea  ;  a 
new  creature  in  Christ  the  test  ques- 
tion for  church  fellowship,  and  humility 
before  God,  and  justice  to  and  upright- 
ness before  man  the  evidence  of  this 
state.  This  is  the  great  need  of  society 
in  California.  This  will  restore  confi- 
dence and  build  up  a  community  of 
interest.  This  will  bring  a  mutual 
Christian  S3'mpathy  and  develop  the 
purer  and  higher  elements  of  regener- 
ated nature.  This  will  prove  to  be 
the  light  of  the  world  and  the  salt 
of  the  earth.  With  the  number 
of  costly  churches  with  towering 
steeples,  and  the  number  of  talented 
preachers  in  the  sacred  rostrum,  dis- 
coursing about  sacred  things,  in  this 
State  ;  yet  with  all  these  appliances, 
society  presents  a  doleful  aspect  in  gen- 
eral ;  it  is  a  spiritual  waste,    a   moral 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in   Christ  in  California. 


23 


desert,  with  only  here  and  there  au 
oasis  to  gladden  the  heart  of  the  Chris- 
tian pilgrim.  May  there  not  be  more  of 
these  green  spots  ?  This  is  the  object 
of  our  labors.  The  Lord  give  us  suc- 
cess. 

The  Bishop  th(.-n  remarked  that  "in 
view  of  some  informalities  in  the  past," 
this  would  be  recognized  as  the  first 
regular  session  of  the  California  Confer- 
ence of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ. 
(The  preceding  records,  however,  seem 
to  indicate  tliat  the  Conferences  of  1861 
and  186"^  were  regularly  organized  and 
recognized  as  such,  but  in  the  contused 
state  of  affairs  in  '64  the  records  of  the 
former  organization  may  have  been  over- 
looked.) 

The  minutes  of  this  session  show  re- 
markable progress.     Let  us  read. 

The  Conference  convened  at  the  Mon- 
ument School-house  in  Yolo  County, 
California,  November  llth,  1861,  at  8 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  Rev.  D.  Shuck  in  the 
chair.  B.  B.  Allen  was  elected  Chair- 
man, and  N.  W.  Harrow,  Secretary. 
Members  present:  D.  Shuck,  B.  B.  Al- 
len, John  Dollarhide,  David  Eb}^,  and 
N.  Hubbard.  Received  during  session  : 
J.  B.  Hamilton,  subject  to  his  transfer, 
and  E.  A.  McAlister,  on  his  credentials 
from  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church.  Li- 
centiates :  John  W.  Harrow,  Noah  W. 
Harrow,  C.  W.  Gillett,  and  J.  H.  Bab- 
cock.  Members  absent:  A.  Musselman, 
Israel  Sloane,  (deceased),  D.  Thompson, 
and  Wm.  Dresser.  Committee  on  De- 
votion :  C.  Hubbard,  B.  B.  Allen,  and 
J.  Baxter.  On  Applicants:  N.  Hub- 
bard, J5.  Eby,  and  J.  DoUarhide.  The 
licentiates,  viz :  J.  W.  Harrow,  N.  W. 
Harrow,  C.  W.  Gillett,  and  H.  J.  Bab- 
cock  were  referred  to  the  appropriate 
committee.  The  above  brethren  passed 
their  examination  well  and  received  li- 
cense  from    the    Conference.      A    letter 


of  encouragement  was  written  to  Brother 
A.  Musselman,  who  was  in  the  United 
States  Service.  The  following  appears 
in  the  minutes,  on  the  death  of  Sloane  : 

"Whereas,  It  pleased  God,  in  his  providence,  to 
remove,  ou  the  3lst  of  August,  1863,  from  labor  to 
reward,  our  highly  esteemed  brother  and  pioneer 
missionary,  Rev.  Israel  Sloane;  and,  whereas,  in 
the  saeritiees,  the  self  denial,  and  the  indefatigable 
ministerial  labors  of  our  departed  brother,  were 
exemplified  the  marks  of  the  true  minister  of  the 
gospel  of  Jcsua'  Christ,  and  feeling  as  we  do,  that  he 
rests  from  his  labors,  and  that  the  loss  of  the  Church 
for  a  time  of  his  active  labors,  is  his  gain  ;  there- 
fore, 

"  Resjloed,  That  we  submissively  bow  to  this,  to  us 
a  mysterious  dispensation  of  Divine  Providence,  and 
devoutly  pray  that  the  same  spirit  that  moved  our 
departed  brother  to  go  forward — to  go  into  the  high- 
ways and  hedges — may  dwell  in  all  our  hearts;  that 
we  extend  to  his  bereaved  companion  and  orphan 
children,  our  warmest  Christian  sympathies  ;  and  we 
pray  God,  who  will  be  more  than  a  husband  to  the 
widow,  and  more  than  a  father  to  the  fatherless, 
may  be  their  God,  and  that  he  may  protect,  sustain, 
comfort,  and  finally  bring  them  all  to  a  reunion  in 
heaven." 

"An  hour  was  spent  in  a  free  expres- 
sion of  feeling  in  regard  to  the  charac- 
ter, the  labors,  the  life  and  death  of 
Bro.  Sloane.  This  was  an  impressive 
season.  Surely  his  mantle  had  fallen 
on  some  of  the  preachers." 

In  answer  to  the  question,  who  are 
willing  to  travel  without  reserve  this 
year?  the  answer  was,  D.  Shuck,  B.  B. 
Allen,  J.  DoUarhide,  D.  Eby,  J.  W.  Har- 
row, C.  W.  Gillett,  N.  W.  Harrow,  and 
J.  B,  Hamilton.  B.  B.  Allen  was  elected 
Presiding  Elder.  An  excellent  report 
on  missions  was  adopted.  Also,  oa  the 
state  of  our  country,  and  upon  secret 
societies  (the  slavery  of  the  soul). 

A   RELIGIOUS    PAPER    CONTEMPLATED. 

"  Whereas,  we  learn  through  the  Superintendent, 
that  the  Oregon  Conference  has  resolved  to  put  forth 
an  effort  to  secure  the  means  to  commence  the  publi- 
cation of  a  religious  paper  on  the  coast,  under  the 
control  of  the  Churchi  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ,  and  desire  the  co-operation  of  this  Confer- 
ence; and  believing  that  such  a  publication,  properly 
conducted,  would  contribute  much  to  our  permanency 
and  usefulness  as  a  church  in  the  future ;  therefore 

"  Res'/lved,  That  we,  as  a  Conference,  co-operate 
most  heartily,  so  far  as  we  are  able,  with  the  Oregon 
Conference,  in  this  enterprise." 

The  Conference  passed  the  following 


24 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in   Qdiforma. 


resolution  upon  the  Branch   Society  of 
Missions  : 

"  Resolved,  That  we,  as  a  Conference,  become  a 
branch  of  the  Home,  Frontier,  and  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ." 

Rev.  B.  B.  Allen  was  elected  branch 
Treasurer,  and  Ecv.  D.  Shuck,  branch 
Secretary.  A  publishing  concern  was 
contemplated,  of  which  D.  Shuck  was 
appointed  a  Trustee.  A  Ministerial  Aid 
Society  was  also  projected. 

REPORT  OP  THE  STATION  COMMITTEE. 

Feather  River  Mission,  J.  W.  Harrow:  Yuba 
River  Mission,  N.  W.  Harrow  ;  Roseville  Mission, 
D.  Eby  ;  Sacramento  Mission,  J.  DoUarhide;  Monu- 
ment Mission,  (to  be  supplied;}  Humboldt  Co.  Mis- 
sion, .J.  B.  Hamilton;  Healdsburg  Mission,  C.  W. 
Gillett. 

The  statistics  of  this  conference  show 
that  there  were  eightj^-two  members 
reported  to  it,  and  that  one  hundred 
and  forty-five  had  been  received,  and 
that  the  present  number  was  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-one,  making  an  increase 
of  sixty-nine. 

THE    OUTLOOK    IN    1864. 

Imagine  first  the  extent  of  territory — 
the  boundaries  of  the  mission.  The  Pre- 
siding Elder  must  travel  fotir  t/iou.saitd 
miles  each  year  to  reach  the  various  fields 
of  labor,  while  the  united  travels  of  the 
few  missionaries  in  tlie  work  exceeded 
ten  thou&cmd  miles  annually,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  visiting  from  house  to  house. 
They  had  no  railroad  facilities  then.  The 
Indians  were  on  the  "  war  path ;"  the 
mountains  through  which  they  must  pass 
were  inhabited  by  wild  beasts,  savages, 
and  "border  ruffians,"  who,  like  the 
thieves  between  JerusalcTn  and  Jericho, 
were  watching  for  some  Samaritan  to 
come  down  that  way.  The  incidents  of 
this  cliaracter,  together  with  a  variety  of 
counter-circumstances  in  the  territory, 
are  too  numerous  to  notice  at  this  time, 
but  will  a))pear  in  a  future  chapter. 

From  a  financial  point  of  view  it  was 


very  dark.  Society  was  very  much  dis- 
organized. Popuhir  amusements,  then, 
as  now,  were  a  detriment  to  the  Church. 
The  want  of  permanenc}'  was  very 
much  felt  in  every  circle  and  avoca- 
tion of  life.  Every  one  seemed  to  be 
for  himself,  and  look  within  the  limits 
of  a  very  narrow  circle  of  personal  self- 
ishness, in  order  to  extend  the  bounda- 
ries of  their  avaricious  pursuits  over  the 
entire  realm  of  capital  and  of  labor. 

Our  country  was  then  still  in  the 
heat  of  battle,  and  California  had  be- 
come the  Canada  of  deserters,  and  the 
Cuba  of  lawlessness.  The  principles 
of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  were 
not  popular  here.  Their  cry  for  the 
liberty  of  the  slave  was  a  "hot  brand" 
in  the  camp  of  the  many  who  fled  for 
refuge  from  the  "draft  wheels"  of  the 
States,  and  hoped  to  hold  the  channels 
of  civil  thought,  until  such  time  as  they 
could  establish  a  confederacj'. 

The  want  of  laborers  and  means  to 
sustain  them  was  also  in  the  way. 
These  inipediments  were  perhaps  the 
causes  of  disparagement  among  some  of 
the  people.  But  the  address  of  the 
Superinteudeut  calling  up  the  struggle, 
and  the  certainty  of  success  if  the 
proper  measures  were  carried  out,  and 
if  the  men  who  were  in  the  field,  would 
go  to  work  for  Glod,  with  a  view  of 
making  a  success  of  it,  encouraged  them 
greatl}'.  lie  impressed  upon  their 
hearts  the  necessity  of  untiring  earnest- 
ness, proving  that  the  United  Brethren 
were  needed  here — that  there  was  a 
work  for  them  to  do,  and  that  it  be- 
came them  all  to  do  it. 

The  work  began  to  take  a  rise.  Many 
were  converted  and  added  to  the 
Church.  New  societies  were  formed 
in  various  localities,  while  many  homes 
and  hearts  once  strangers  to  grace, 
became   members  of  the   household  of 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


25 


God.  Oppositions  raged  with  defiant 
boldness,  while  our  miuisters,  "after 
the  mauncr  of  men,  fought  with  the 
beasts  of  California."  But  God  was 
for  them  and  who  could  be  against 
them  ?  Their  cause  was  one  of  human- 
ity, and  to  its  success  was  entrusted 
the  interests  of  dying  mortals.     There 


are  those  of  the  ministry  still  among 
us  who  bore  the  severest  trials  incident 
to  the  itinerant  of  those  days.  No 
home;  strange  faces;  gruff  and  extreme- 
ly unkind  language,  and  many  long 
and  dreary  nights,  with  nothing  over 
their  heads  but  a  star-lit  sky,  were 
among  the  privations  they  endured. 


CHAPTER    V. 

l^j^RlVATlONS  are  very  hard  to  bear 
"SL  in  any  cause,  and  few  there  be  who 
rest  content  to  bear  them  for  tlie 
Master.  There  are  some,  however,  who 
are  willing  to  be  sacrificed  if  need  be,  to 
extend  the  invitation  of  the  gospel  to  a 
lost  world.  California  has  had  some  ex- 
perience in  these  things.  The  United 
Brethren  have  shared  somewhat  with 
"Judases"  as  well  as  with  "beloved 
Pauls  and  Barnabasas."  Their  work 
would  assume  a  magnitude  that  gave  it 
tlie  indications  of  immediate  success,  and 
in  less  time  than  the  news  of  it  could 
reach  the  ears  of  the  (>hvirch  at  large, 
it  had  again  lost  itself  in  disappointment 
and  in  difficulty.  There  are  not  many, 
who,  like  the  isolated  prophet,  will  wait 
in  their  place  to  be  fed  by  ravens.  The 
men  who  started  out  from  the  Conference 
of  '64  with  the  view  of  entering  the 
fields  before  them,  labored  a  few  months, 
and  then  resumed  their  former  trades. 
The  Bishop  found  it  out  of  the  question 
to  keep  the  fields  supplied.  He  traveled 
extensively  and  held  services  wlierever 
practicable,  but  was  unable  to  satisfy  the 
increasing  demands  that  were  pressing 
themselves  vipon  him.  He  labored  night 
and  day,  and  won  many,  very  many 
precious  souls  to  God.  If  the  entire 
ministry  had  but  proved  faithful  at  that 
early  period  of  the  Church  in  this  State, 
the  United  Brethren  would  now  occupy 
place*  and  hold  positions,  that  are  held 


by  those  whose  names  are  upon  other 
class  books.  We  pray  that  God  may 
bless  them  in  their  present  relation,  and 
that  with  the  rich  sheaves  of  their 
toil,  they  may  be  gathered  at  last  to 
enjoy  the  harvest  home  of  the  blessed. 
But  there  are  some  who  came  among 
the  people  in  sheep's  clothing,  while  in- 
wardly they  were  ravening  wolves.  One 
of  these  violated  the  rules  of  the  Church, 
and  by  his  pernicious  influence  drew  a 
whole  society  with  him.  But,  as  may  be 
expected,  both  the  leader  and  the  ones 
who  were  led  became  cold  and  indiffer- 
ent, and  soon  went  back  to  the  world. 
A  second  gave   indications  that    he   was 

j  not  of  us,  and  soon  left  under  cen- 
sure. Still  later,  another  became  puffed 
up,   and    after    almost    demoralizing    the 

I  cause  in  certain  quarters,  was  removed 
from  the  Conference.  The  demands  for 
laborers  being  great  during  those  perilous 
times,  called  out  many  who  gave  their 
names  to  the  Church  as  preachers  who 
had  certainly  mistaken  their  calling.  The 
object  of  their  zeal  is  a  mystery  to  us, 
and  unless  we  may  say  that  "they  had 
not  the  knowledge  of  God,"  we  are  at 
a  loss  to  account  for  their  desire  to  preach 
in  those  days.  Not  for  money.  There 
was  no  money  in  it;  nor  ease,  for  the 
greatest  toils  and  privations  had  to  be 
endured.  Nor  was  it  for  fame  or  per- 
sonal honor,  for  the  very  opposite  was 
true.  Let  us  apply  the  words  of  the 
Apostle,  where  he  said  to  certain  of  his 


2(3 


History  of  the   United  Brethren  in   Christ  in   CaUfornia. 


day,    "I   tell   you,   even    weeping,    that 
some    of    you    are    the    enemies    of    the 
cross    of    Christ/'     The  call  to  the  minis- 
try is  most  assuredly  a  solemn  call,  and 
whether  or  not  it  presupposes  a  special 
preparation  of  years  under  proper  train- 
ing  in  the   /or/cs"  of  God,  one    thing   is 
plain,  and  that   is,  that   there  are   many, 
who,  although  they  are  eloquent,  need  to 
be   "taken   apart,  aiid   instructed   in   the 
word    more    perfectly.'"'      The    old — yea, 
new — idea,    that     if     we     are     called    to 
preach,    and    simply    open    our    mouths, 
God  will  fill  them,   is  often   quoted   by 
those   who  say   things,   and   preach   doc- 
trines  that'  are   not   of  God.     California 
Conference   has   had    too  man}^   of  these 
would    be    preachers.     There    is   an    old 
adage   here   among  the    settlers,  that  the 
country    settles    up    thice    tin)es     before 
permanency  of  the  settlements  is  secured. 
The  first  class  are  ramblers  ;  the  second, 
monopolists  ;  and   the  thicd,  tlie  industri- 
ous yeomanry.     This  will  not  fully  apply 
to  the  unftiitliAil  of  our  State,  as  it  relates 
to  the  evangelistic   work  ;  but  is  it    not 
true,   that  preaching  has  been   made  the 
alternate,    instead  of  the  "one  calling." 
When  God  calls  a   man   to  preach,  who. 
or  what  may  call  him  to  any  other  work? 
Before  we  pass  on  in   this  chapter,  we 
wish   to   speak    of    the    labors    of   .).    H. 
Mayfield.     We  said  in   a  former  note  of 
this  man,  that  he   was  the  Cartwriglit  of 
California,  and  that  his  fame  went  before 
him,  while  his  reputation,  it  followed  after. 
We  sliall  now  exjjlain  what   was    n)eant 
by  this  singular  mani'cr  of  expr(^ssi()n. 

Bro.  M.  came  to  the  State  to  make  a 
visit  among  triends,  and,  as  was  hi>^ 
custom,  preached  often.  He  held  a 
protracted  effort  at  Live  Oak,  in  BuUe 
County,  in  1803,  that  resulted  in  some 
eighty  conversions,  and  about  fifty  ac- 
cessions to  the  Church.  He  also  con- 
ducted a  groat  revival  meeting  at  Lodi, 


in  San  Joaquin  County,  in  1807,  in 
which  the  whole  community  became 
interested,  and  scores  were  converted 
to  God.  Nearly  all  of  the  old  resident 
Church  members,  who  are  slill  in  these 
communities  date  their  conversions  to 
the  meetings  held  by  him.  The  breth- 
ren ami  friends  of  the  cause  at  Wood- 
bridge,  finally  made  arrangements  to 
employ  him  us  their  regular  pastor. 
Kut  in  the  mean  time,  others  were 
laboring  in  the  cause  in  different  parts 
of  the  Conference.  Bro.  J.  W.  Han-ow, 
by  the  request  of  Bro.  M.,  took  charge 
of  the  Live  Oak  work  in  Butte  County, 
while  the  work  in  Yolo  and  Humboldt 
Counties  was  kept  up  by  other  minis- 
terial brethren.  But  what  of  Bro. 
Mayfield,  you  ask?  Well,  he  was  rather 
inclined  to  appreciate  that  noble  animal, 
the  horse,  and  by  the  way,  was  as  good 
a  judge  of  his  quality  and  disposition, 
as  most  of  men  are  who  deal  in  horse 
flesh.  Of  course,  he  was  at  once 
branded  as  being  a  horse  trading 
preacher.  That  he  was  a  preacher,  and 
a  good  one  too,  no  one  who  heard  him 
in  these  meetings  will  attempt  to  call 
into  question  ;  and  that  ho  traded, 
bought,  and  sold  horses,  none  will  deny. 
What  of  it?  "Well,  I  don't  think," 
says  one,  "that  a  preacher  ought  to 
trade  horses."  No;  if  trading  horses 
tends  to  destroy  the  influence  of  a 
preacher,  ho  should  cease  to  trade;  nay, 
if  anything  ho  docs  or  may  be  led  to 
do,  destroys  his  influence,  he  sliould 
refrain  at  once.  Not  he  alone,  but  all 
and  any  ofGod's  children  are  bound  to 
preserve  their  Chi-istian  dignity  and 
character.  It  is  due  the  brother  of 
whom  we  are  speaking,  to  say,  that 
not  a  case  has  yet  been  heard  from 
where  ho  in  anyway  took  the  advan- 
tage of  any  man  in  trade.  We  are 
opposed   to  our  people  becoming  jock- 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


27 


<eys,  but  can  afford  to  be  careful  about 
calling  the  motives  of  men  into  ques- 
tion upon  these  things.  Mr.  Muyficld's 
Influence  and  character  ought  to  be 
determined  by  the  rule  that  is  generallj' 
employed  in  determining  the  character 
of  any  other  individual :  that  is,  by  his 
woi'k,  andnot  by  rumors  concerning  him. 
He  has  many  warm  friends  here. 
Whatever  more  vre  shall  speak  of  him, 
will  be  in  connection  with  his  work 
and  relation  to  Conference. 

The  next  annual  Conference  convened 
at  Monument,  in  Yolo  County,  October 
20th,  1865.  There  were  nine  members 
of  Conference  present  at  the  opening 
of  this  session.  Bros.  E.  Harrow,  S. 
D.  Ensley,  and  P.  Boulware,  were  re- 
ceived fi'om  their  respective  Quarterly 
Conferences.  When  the  roll  was  com- 
pleted, it  stood  as  follows  : 

Members  lyresent — D.  Shuck,  B.  B. 
Allen,  J.  Dollarhide,  N.  Hubbard,  J. 
W.  Harrow,  N.  W.  Harrow,  D.  Thomp- 
son, Wm.  Dresser,  H.  S.  Babcock,  S. 
D.  Ensley,  E.  Harrow,  and  P.  Boul- 
ware— 12. 

Members  ahseul — D.  Ebj%  E.  A.  McAl- 
lister, A.  Musselman,  and  C.  W.  Gillett. 
Upon  McAllister's  case  the  following  ap- 
pears :  "On  the  account  of  his  refusal 
to  meet  charges  preferred  against  him, 
he  be  permitted  to  leave  the  Church 
under  charges  of  immoral  conduct." 

The  Conference  acted  wisely  in  this 
respect,  in  as  much  as  wolves  are  very 
dangerous  among  sheep.  How  the 
Bishop  managed  to  keep  the  work  to- 
i^ether  as  he  did,  and  bring  in  as  good  a 
report  to  this  Conference  as  we  find  on 
the  records,  is  only  known  to  those 
who  were  eye  witnesses  of  his  exces- 
sive toils  and  privations.  "Our  Super- 
intendent is  working  too  hard,"  was  the 
frequent  statement  of  the  people  in  the 
various  communities   in   which    he    la- 


bored. But  while  these  friends  could 
take  rest  from  an  effort  of  weeks,  the 
Brother  whose  labors  they  thought  to 
be  too  hard,  was  on  his  way  to  fill  other 
engagements  as  fatiguing  as  the  one 
from  which  he  had  just  come.  One  can 
apply  to  his  labors  the  language  of  the 
Apostle,  who,  after  he  had  given  an 
account  of  his  own  toils  and  sufferings, 
said,  "and  besides  these  things,  tho 
care  of  the  Churches." 

The  following  fields  of  labor  were 
established  at  this  session  of  Confer- 
ence : 

Humboldt  County  District — Mattole 
Mission,  Centre  Mission,  Eohnerville 
Circuit,  and  Eureka  Mission. 

Sacramento  Valley  District — Honcut 
Circuit,  Feather  Eiver  Mission,  Monu- 
ment Mission,  Sacramento  Mission,  Rus- 
sian River  Mission. 

Sacramento  Mission  embraced  the 
city,  but  it  was  left  out  to  be  supplied. 
The  year  following,  J.  W.  Harrow  was 
sent  to  it,  but  the  records  are  silent  as 
to  the  results  that  followed.  In  '67,  it 
was  left  again  to  be  supplied,  and  finally 
in  1868,  was  abandoned  for  several 
years.  The  minutes  indicate  that  the 
various  interests  were  kept  before  tho 
people  during  the  year  just  passed,  and 
also  show  that  tho  vacancies  made  by 
the  resignations  referred  to,  were,  with 
two  exceptions,  filled. 

The  next  Conference  was  held  at 
Brown's  camp  ground,  in  Humboldt 
Count}',  June  28th,  1866.  There  were 
four  additional  names  enrolled  on  the 
ministerial  list,  among  them,  T.  S.  Jake- 
way,  on  credentials  from  tho  Methodist 
Protestant  Church. 

J.  Dollarhide  was  reported  with- 
drawn from  tho  Church. 

There  was  a  great  deal  of  interest 
manifested  in  the  organization  in  this 
State  for  the  better  observance  of  the 


28 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  Qdifornia. 


Sabbath.  At  the  Annual  Conference  of 
1867,  they  resolved  that  they  as  a 
Conference,  heartily  co-operate  with 
the  California  Christian  Society  in  the 
object  of  its  organization,  as  sot  forth 
in  its  constitution,  and  that  tlicy  as 
ministers,  would  labor  earnestly  to  ele- 
vate the  nature  of  the  obligations  of 
the  Sabbath,  and  show  the  crime  of  its 
desecration.  Their  reports  on  Sabbath 
schools,  education,  and  on  moral  reform, 
were  calculated  to  inspire  the  laborers 
with  zeal  and  energy.  These  resolu- 
tions and  efforts  continued  each  j'car, 
working  up  a  sentiment  fraught  with 
good — a  blessing  to  the  Church,  and  an 
auxiliary  to  the  State. 

At  the  Conference  of  18G8,  the  last  at- 
tended by  Bro.  Shuclc,  previous  to  his 
return  to  the  East,  the  Secretary  re- 
ported that  peace  and  harmony  pre- 
vailed throughout  the  entire  session. 
The  statistics  of  this  Conference  show 
an  increase  of  38  aj>pointmcnt8;  15 
classes;  189  members;  52  Telescopes;  9 
Sunday  schools;  and  1G8  scholars  and 
teachers,  fince  18GI.  One  Church 
building  is  also  reported. 

We  have  hastily  passed  over  the  four 
j'cars  of  Bishop  Shuck's  labors  in  Cali- 
fornia. Oregon,  and  Walla  Walla  Con- 
ferences shared  in  his  services,  and 
coubJ  no  doubt  give  items  of  interest 
of  the  work  there  during  this  time. 
To  assume  the  responsible  position  of 
fluperintending  three  Conferences,  and 
traveling  regularl}'  and  preaching  con- 
stantly, is  no  small  matter.  Then  the 
administration  of  discipline,  the  coun- 
sels and  athnonitioiis  dui'ing  Confer- 
ence; the  "weightier  matters  of  the 
law"  to  be  decided,  besides  the  innum- 
erable duties  that  press  themselves  upon 
a  man  in  the  capacity  in  which  he  then 
stood,  were,  to  say  the  least,  hard  to 
be  borne.     Let  us   all  find  occasion  to 


rejoice  that  God  honored  his  people, 
and  that  although  unfaithfulness  char- 
acterized the  faint  efforts  of  some,, 
that  there  were  those,  who  like  Jeph- 
thae's  few,  stood  nobly  in  the  battle. 
The  greatest  anti  best  evidence  of  Hr 
man's  success,  is  to  know  that  ho  is 
"approved  of  God."  This  does  not 
alwa3's  argue  that  all  that  a  man  does 
is  approved  of  men,  for  to  man  is 
ascribed  the  fact  that  ho  errs,  while  of 
God  it  is  said,  that  He  forgives.  Here 
is  an  old  adage,  that  will  not  come 
amiss:  "He  who  thinks  that  he  never 
makes  any  mistakes,  never  corrects  his 
errors." 


RKV.  J.  WRAVEK",   I).  D. 

The  Conference  of  18G9  convened 
near  Woodland,  Yolo  County,  on  the 
sixteenth  of  Sejitember.  Bishop  J. 
Weaver,  presiding. 

James  Harrow  and  G.  C.  Starr,  wore 
received  into  the  Conference  during 
this  session. 

A    CHINESE    MISSION    CONTEMPLATED. 

The  Conference  adopted  a  lengthy 
report  looking  to   the  speedy  establisl^ 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


29 


mentof  a  Chinese  Mission  in  this  Stutc; 
they  pledged  themselves  to  co-operate 
with  the  13oard  of  Missions  in  any  and 
every  etfort  they  might  make  to  o])cn 
one  among  them.  The  Conference  also 
appointed  Wm.  Dresser,  N.  Hubbard, 
and  J.  Dollarhidc,  a  committee  to  aid 
the  Board  in  locating  the  mission. 

The  demand  for  men  and  means  to 
successfully  keep  up  the  various  ap- 
pointments in  the  Conference  territory, 
was  much  agitated,  and  resulted  in 
the  adoption  of  a  resolution  asking  the 
Church  in  the  East  to  help  in  men 
and  means  to  sustain  them.  The  Hishop 
was  also  urged  to  intercede  for  them. 
Ecader,  take  a  look  at  the  extensive 
fields  of  labor,  and  then  look  at  the 
few  names  enrolled,  and  the  exhausted 
treasury',  and  j'our  heart  will  beat  with 
kindred  emotions.  Lot  us  view  the 
report  on  finance  in  its  appropriations 
to  the  vaiMous  fields  of  labor:  Hum- 
boldt District,  §50;  Presiding  Elder 
collections  in  the  district  for  the  entire 
year,  was  $152;  now  add  the  appro|iria- 
tion,  and  the  whole  salary  of  the  Elder 
isonlj^  S202.  1'ake  Sacramento  Vallo}' 
District:  the  appropriation  was  only 
§30;  Presiding  Elder  collections,  $108, 
making  a  total  of  $138,  while  the 
average  support  of  the  pastor  was  loss 
thatj  $200  during  the  3'ear.  Siiall  we 
say  of  these  men,  that  they  were  in- 
clined to  beg?  We  say,  no.  "Thou 
shalt  not  muzzle  the  ox  that  treadcth 
out  the  corn."  ''  But,"  saj's  one,  "some 
preachers  did  not  serve  the  cause  faith- 
fully." Vcrj^  well.  But  what  have  ihey 
to  say  concerning  those  who  gave  all 
of  their  time  to  the  work?  What  ex- 
cuse is  there  for  not  supporting  them  ? 
The  people  of  California  are  character- 
ized as  a  liberal  people,  and  there  are 
many  among  them  who  have  given 
largely,    while   others    have    withheld 


their  support  under  circumstances, 
when  they  should  have  followed  the 
noble  example  of  their  liberal  brethren. 
One  more  explanation  is  due  the  peo- 
ple, and  the  writer  will  not  have  dis- 
charged his  whole  duty  until  it  is 
stated.  It  is  this:  The  people  want  to 
be  assured  that  the  preacher  has  the 
cause  of  the  Lord  at  heart;  that  it  is 
to  him  above  all  other  causes;  that  he 
is  not  following  the  ministerial  call  to 
make  it  pay,  but  to  glorify  God  by  sav- 
ing souls.  He  must  not  allow  any  fond 
desires  to  grow  up  about  him,  that  will 
j  cause  him  to  think  more  about  the 
I  things  of  to-morrow,  "of  what  he  shall 
eat,  or  what  ho  shall  drink,  or  where 
withal  he  shall  bo  clothed,"  than  aboufe 
the  results  of  his  high  calling. 
I  If  the  pleadings  of  the  people  of  the 
}  Conference  irom  the  Bishop  to  the  few 
could  have  prevailed  anj'thing  at  that 
time,  the  work  might  again  have  grown 
speedily,  and  spread  out  until  all  of  the 
territorj'  then  unoccupied,  and  to  which 
the  Church  was  invited,  would  have  re- 
sounded with  praise,  praj'cr,  and  song 
long  ore  this,  and  we  might  now  bo 
writing  such  a  history  of  it  as  is  not 
])aralleicd  in  missionwoi'kin  ihisChurch. 
The  preachers  went  out  from  the  Confer- 
ence of  1809  with  a  dctei-mination,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  to  double  their  dili- 
gence, and  occupy  the  outposts  and  reg- 
ular fields  until  their  ranks  could  bo 
strengthened  and  regular  pastoi'ates  es- 
tablished. Ecv.  C.  "W.  Gillett  Avas 
elected  Presiding  Elder  of  Humboldt 
District ;  J.  Ackersoii  went  to  Humboldt 
Circuit;  T.  S.  Jakeway  to  Clear  Lake 
Slission  ;  R.  B.  Harris  to  Long  Valley  ; 
Wm.  Dresser  to  Pussian  Piver,  and  S. 
B.  Hamilton  to  Areata  Mission. 

Pev.  J.  W.  Harrow  was  elected  Pro- 
siding  Elder  of  Sacramento  District.  J. 
Dollarhidc  went  to  Feather  Piver  Cir- 


30 


History  of  the   United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


euit ;  Goo.  C.  Starr  to  Monument;  N. 
W.  Harrow  to  Stockton  Mission,  and 
James  Harrow  to  San  Joaquin  Mission. 

Bishop  Weaver's  remarks  to  the  breth- 
ren of  the  Conference  were  full  of 
power,  and  gave  them  great  courage 
and  strength.  The  occasion  of  the 
Conference  is  still  referred  to  at  Wood- 
land as  one  of  rare  occurrence. 

The  Conference  passed  a  resolution 
that  they  were  satisfied  with  the  plan 
of  yearly  visits  from  the  Bishops.  They 
thought  that  the  influence  of  these  men 
would  be  felt  among  the  people  for  years 
10  come.  They  were  not  mistaken  in 
this.  The  executive  ability  and  the  pa- 
thetic ajjpeals  of  Dr.  Weaver  still  leave 
their  impress  upon  the  people  who  heard 


him  here.  Bishop  Glossbronner's  pater- 
nal tenderness  and  deep  piety  arc  often 
referred  to  with  pleasure  and  profit. 
Dr.  Edwards,  that  inimitable  orator  and 
fine  Church  officer,  started  a  wave  bore 
that  will  continnc  to  roll  until  its  silvery 
spra}'  falls  upon  the  very  rocks  of  eter- 
nity, while  the  descriptive  powers  of 
Bishop  Dixon  served  to  place  California 
in  its  true  light.  The  visit  also  of  Rev. 
D.  K.  Flickinger,  our  Missionar}^  Secre- 
tary, gave  the  missionary  society  a 
reputation  here  that  it  could  not  have 
received  by  years  of  drilling  at  a  dis- 
tance. A  resident  Bishop  has  now  be- 
some  a  necessity,  and  proves  a  blessing 
to  the  work  on  the  entire  coast. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

.^ISEOP  GLOSSBRENNER  next 
^  visited  the  Conferences  on  the 
coast.  California  Conference  was  held 
in  the  School  House  iu  Alexander  Val- 
ley, Maj-  12th,  1870.  About  one  half 
of  the  Conference  members  were  absent. 
Business  was  promptly  attended  to,  and 
several  reports  adopted  upon  matters 
of  vital  importance. 

The  brethren  pressed  the  matter  of 
help  from  the  parent  board,  as  being 
an  immediate  nccessit}'.  They  desired 
to  enter  the  various  fields  that  were 
without  a  supply.  It  is  a  matter  of 
observation  here,  that  the  Conference 
had  but  a  very  few  men  whose  names 
can  bo  found  among  those  present  at 
at  each  annual  Conference.  One  gather- 
ing would  find  quite  a  large  number  of 
ministers  present,  while  at  the  next, 
but  one  half  of  the  whole  number 
would  be  on  hand.  Then  upon  further 
examination,  wo  find  that  at  one  Con- 
ference certain  brethren  would  be  pres- 
ent, and  at  the  very  next  they  would 


be  absent,  and  the  former  absentees 
would  be  on  hand  to  answer  to  their 
names.  These  changes  caused  it  to 
become  exceedingly  diflScult  to  give 
permanency  to  the  work,  and  cai'ry 
into  execution  the  various  projects  of 
the  Conference.  Their  appeal  for  help 
became  in  a  measure  fruitless  until 
some  j^ears  later.  Now,  that  we  may 
be  understood  in  the  above,  and  that 
the  i)arent  Board  of  Missions  bo  not 
blamed  for  not  having  the  cause  at 
heart,  a  word  of  explanation  will  be  of 
some  service. 

Twenty  one  years  of  our  history  as 
a  people  had  then  already  passed,  and 
twelve  years  of  this  time  had  been  ex- 
pended in  organized  work.  Nino  An- 
nual Conferences  had  already  been  held, 
and  hundreds  of  souls  converted  and 
added  to  the  Church,  and  still  with  all 
of  this,  the  friends  of  the  cause  here 
felt  that  they  lacked  permanency  in 
their  various  enterprises,  in  order  to 
give  the  Church  certain  and  positive 
power  with  those  with  whom  they  had 


HistoTij  of  the  United  Brethren  in   Christ  in  California. 


•?A 


to  do.  The  lack  was  not  in  men,  but 
in  their  absenting  themselv^es  from 
Home  of  the  most  important  meetings 
of  the  Church.  Nor  was  it  in  ability, 
for  there  were  boih  the  sons  of  "  thun- 
der," and  of  "  consolation  "  among  them. 
They  had  able  men,  and  some  excellent 
financiers,  both  ministers  and  la^'meu, 
bat  the  former  were  in  many  instances 
inactive,  neglecting  the  Church  and  fol- 
lowing secular  pursuits  to  sustain  a 
livelihood.  The  fact  is,  that  many  were 
not  sufficiently  interested  in  their  own 
resolutions  and  plans  to  aid  in  carrying 
them  out.  It  will  be  seen  that  the 
absence  of  that  indispensable  auxiliary, 
continuity,  will  paralyze  any  enterprise, 
the  success  of  which  depends  upon 
continuous  and  uninterrupted  efforts. 
It  is  not  wholly  proper  to  say  that 
there  was  no  cause  for  this  decline, 
and  in  the  preceding  chapter,  the  writer 
has  already  given  some  reasons  why 
some  were  non-committalists  upon  the 
itinerancy  in  the  Conference.  Other 
reasons  might  be  adduced,  but  we  arc 
admonished  to  be  guarded,  and  say 
only  what  may  be  necessary  to  bring 
the  spirit  of  the  facts  in  the  case  to  the 
surface. 

The  Board  of  Missions  may  have 
been  slack  concerning  promises  in  the 
early  days  of  the  work,  as  was  shown 
by  Bro.  Sloane  in  a  communication  to  a 
friend  in  the  East,  and  there  may  have 
been  indications  later,  that  they  might 
have  aided  the  work  more  than  they 
did,  but  it  is  due  the  Board  to  say  that 
they  had  not  only  our  wants  to  look 
after,  but  it  also  become  them  to  look 
well  to  the  use  their  money  was  put  to, 
and  the  utility  of  the  time  of  those  to 
whose  support  it  went.  We  have  tried 
to  write  around  this  matter — to  evade 


it,  but  are  not  clear  so  to  do,  and  hence 
to  give  a  better  idea  of  how  the  matter 
was  viewed  by  some  of  the  friends  of 
the  Church  here,  will  give  a  resolution 
passed  at  one  of  the  Conference  ses- 
sions.    Here  it  is  : 

"Conference  decided  that  in  th;'  fu- 
ture they  would  not  pay  out  missionarv 
money  to  any  missionary  until  it  was 
known  to  them  that  he  had  put  in  his  full 
time  ;  and  that  the  Branch  Secretary  be 
authorized  to  give  an  order  upon  the 
Treasurer  to  pay  the  missionary  in  the 
proportion  of  the  time  employed  as  as- 
certained by  the  Presiding  Elder."  The 
parent  Board  of  Missions  also  watched 
the  Conference  with  more  than  careless 
scrutiny.  At  the  General  Conference  in 
1S7'3,  in  the  Missionary  Secretary's  report 
the  following  appears  :  "  California  Mis- 
sion Conference  has  seemingly  not  made- 
any  progress,  and  yet  it  is  in  a  better- 
condition  now  than  for  two  or  three  years 
past,  and  with  a  supply  of  efficient  labor- 
ers would  succeed  well.  Strange  as  it 
may  seem,  it  is  more  difficult  to  secure 
laborers  for  California  than  any  field  \Ae 
occupy,  Africa  not  excepted." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  in  18 74^ 
the  California  interests  were  not  forgot- 
ten. They  were  disappointed  in  that  not 
more  was  done,  and  saw  that  the  only 
hope  for  this  Conference  was  to  send  out 
men  from  the  East  who  would  go  to  this 
field  and  labor  earnestly  for  the  Lord. 
There  were  a  few  faithful,  earnest  men 
here  then  Avho  needed  encouragement, 
and  we  are  glad  to  note  that  they  were 
greatly  helped  as  will  be  seen  when  we 
reach  that  period  of  the  history. 

A  single  glance  at  the  figures  here 
will  show  that  the  parent  Board  acted 
nobly  toward  us. 


32 


History  '</  f/ie  Unikd  Brethren  in  Christ  in  Odifornixi. 


iN!:v  TAIL)  <;ai,ikokma  mission  conkku-  I  been  saul  iibove  may  not  appear  to  have 


KNCK  SINCE   18r)'.>. 

Monc'V  paid  in  1859 -S     50  (»0 

Money  i)aid  in  18G3 151  00 

Money  iniid  in  18G4 800  00 

MoneV  paid  in  1865 400  00 

Money  paid  in   1860 400  00 

Money  paid  in   1867 203  61 

Money  paid  in  1863 410  05 

Money  paid  in  1869 405  20 

Money  paid  in   1870 H38   L'O 

Money  paid  in   1871 774  89 

Money  paid  in   1872 800  00 

Money  paid  in  187H 200  00 

Money  paid  in   1874 424  50 

Money  paid  in   1875 442  06 

Money  paid  in   1876 746  05 

Money  paid  in  1877 857  57 

Money  paid  in  1878 880  00 

Money  paid  ending-  May,  1879.  1094  44 

Making  a  grand  total  of. $9,468  47 

But   i)esldes   this,  tiie   Board   paid  the 

traveling-  expenses  of  quite  a  number  of 

missionaries  to  the  eoast,  making  several 

tliousand  doUars  additional  e.xpense.    We 

an}  not  forming  too  high  an  estimate  of  the 

n)oney  spent  by  the  Board  for  this  Confer- 

enee  to  say  tiiat  the  sum  will  reach  ttctlrd 

fhoHsantJ  (lol/arx.     The  parent  Board  has 

liad  :i   heart  to  work,  and  if  in  some  in- 

sianees  they  did  not  immediately  respond, 

they  had  fturdens  to  bear  and  difficulties  to 

overcome  that  accounts  for  it  all.      May 

(J(jd  bless  the  thousands  who  manifested 

deep  coneern   for  this  mission,  and  may 

lie    abundantly    pardon    those    at    whose 

lijinds    this    great    field    was    allowed    to 

with'-r  and  in  places  die  for  want  of  labor 

tliat  was  in  their  power  to  give. 

"Tli(!  luiiU.  is  mine,"  tlic  i)-iiiltv  fry  ; 
"I'wii.s  their  iiey;-let't  that  made  lliom  (Vu.'. 


heeii     surmisec 
The  item  reai 


U    l>ut    at     least     inferred. 


''■/i'esoti'eif.  That  while  we  are  thankful 
for  what  assistance  the  Board  has  rendered 
us  ii\  the  past,  we  are  fully  satisfied  that 
unless  they  strengthen  this  weak  Confer- 
ence with  additional  men  and  means,  we 
•Bhall  fail  to  occui)y  the  promising  f\elds 
that  are  now  opening  up  before  vis  in 
various  parts. of  this  State;  we,  therefore, 
earnestly  request  the  Board  to  send  us 
hol|)  as  soon  as  possible." 

The  Ctinference  w;<s  s^nnewhat  unfor- 
tunate in  loosing  somt  of  their  best  men. 
The  reader  has  already  noticed  the  lack 
of  the  proper  men  and  enough  of  them  to 
man  the  work  from  tlie  very  beginning. 
The  death  of  Revs,  .lohn  Dollarhide  and 
Nelson  Hubbard  gave  the  brethren  occa- 
sion to  t'eel  that  pain  that  can  only  be 
brought  u[)oii  the  human  heart  when  their 
sympathies  and  personal  attachmentH 
are  called  out. 

The  Conference  of  '<0  passed  a  resolu- 
tion u[)on  their  lives  and  characters 
that  bears  the  marks  of  true  appreciation, 
also  woi'ds  of  svm|)atliy  and  condolence 
to  the  families  bereft  of  their  loved  ones. 
Sad  as  the  picture  ma}'  have  been  to 
those  who  viewed  it  then,  it  is  not  sad 
now  to  look  back  to  that  time  and  to 
those  places,  for  they  are  but  marks  of 
(iod's  dealings  toward  us.  They  are  the 
river  banks  from  which,  like  Klisha,  we 
can  view  the  chariots  bearing  away  those 
whom   the  Lord   loves.     California  seems 


TIk'  Bishop  was  liimself  a  member  of  sacred  with  trium|)hant  songs  and  glor- 
the  Board  of  Missions,  and  had  an  e.xcel-  ious  testimonies  on  the  very  margin  of 
lent  opportunity  of  seeing  the  real  need  j  the  tomb — yea,  the  vestibule  of  heaven, 
in  the  Conference,  and  presenting  the  :  We  «>ften  say,"  Not  lost,  but  gone  before." 
matter  to  the  Board.  The  report  of  the  It  is  a  matter  of  fact  that  there  are  some 
Cominittee  on  Missions  at  the  Annual  of  the  servants  of  God,  who,  although 
Conference  in  1870  was  timely,  an  item  I  they  slew  many  by  and  through  their 
of  which  \\e  give  to  show  that  what    has      lives,  also,  like  Sam[)Son,  slew  some   by 


Hisiorij  of  (he  United  Brethren  in  ^  Christ  in  Calif orrm. 


33 


their  death  ;  and  even  more,  their  words 
are  still  ring-ing  out,  and  by  tliein  they 
•are  contiiuiiiig'  to  speak,  and  souls  are 
thus  being  brought  ro  Clirist. 

But  we  pass  on 
to  the  success  of 
the  work.  All  bus- 
iness matters  of  the 
past  were  looked 
up,  accounts  au- 
dited, and  settle- 
ments made  witii 
all  of  the  mission- 
aries, and  direc- 
tions g'iven  foi'  the 
future,  when  the 
'brethren  ag-ain  felt 
that  if  help  would 
iuowcome  and  take 
lioid  upon  the  work 
they  would  bring- 
up  an  unprece- 
dented report  at  tlie  Conference  of  'M. 
The  Bishop  made  to  himself  many  warm 
ffriends,  and  by  it  gave  the  Church  pres- 
tige and  power  for  good  that  has  greatly 
lionored  God.  After  the  many  excellent 
■ports  of  the  committees  upon  living  items 
of  interest,  and  after  the  work  for  the  year 
Ivefore  tiiem  was  all  properly  organized 
and  the  basis  fixed  from  which  to  mark 
the  advance,  the  Conference  of  1870  ad- 
journed with  feeling  of  great  interest. 

Tke  Conference  (»f  1871  was  like  an 
oa.s7,s  in  the  desert.  It  convened  ;it 
Woodbridge,  California,  on  the  fifth  of 
May.  Bishop  D.  Edvvaids,  presided. 
Rev.  T.  S.  Jakeway  was  reported  de- 
ceased. Boulware,  Allen,  Musselman, 
and  Hamilton,  wc-re  absent.  There  w«;re 
twelve  members  present,  viz :  J.  Acker- 
»on,  Wm.  Dresser,  G.  C.  Starr,  J.  W. 
Harrow,  James  IJairow,  N.  W.  Harrow, 


BISHOP  J.  J.  GLOSSBRENNER 


Numerous  committees  were  appointed 
by  the  Bishop,  endjracing  the  subjects  of 
devotion,  applicants,  ordination,  bounda- 
aries,  finance.  Sabbath  schools,  publish- 
ing interests,  mem- 
oirs, reading,  and 
Church  building 
fund. 

Difficulties  ex- 
isting among  mem- 
bers of  the  Con- 
ference were  sub- 
mitted to  commit- 
tees, and  finally 
adjusted.  Wm. 
Dresser  was  lo- 
cated one  year  by 
the  Conference. 
Rev.  T.  S.  .lake- 
way,  the  deceased 
brother,  was  very 
highly  appreciated 
as  expressed  in  the  resolution  of  the  Con- 
fei'ence. 

The  various  committees  brought  ii» 
reports  full  of  interest.  The  Boundary 
Committee  submitted  the  following : 
"  That  we  have  two  Presiding  Elder  dis- 
tricts, the  Humboldt  and  the  Sacra- 
mento. Long  Galley  and  Clear  Lake 
Missions,  be  called  Clear  Lake  Mission, 
Russian  River  remain  as  it  is.  That  Mon- 
ument Mission  be  formed  into  two  mis- 
sions, with  Cache  Creek  as  the  dividing 
line;  that  the  north  mission  be  called 
Fairview,  and  the  south  mission  be  called 
Monument,  and  that  Lincoln  appoint- 
ment be  detached  from  Monument  Mis- 
sion. That  Rose  villa  Mission  remain  as 
it  is.  Stockton  Mission  to  add  Cooks' 
Bar.  Paradise  Mission,  no  change.  San 
.roaquiii  Mission,  no  change."" 

The  report  was  finally  amended  so  as 


E.  Harrow,  C.  W.  Gil  left,  David  Eby,  E.      to    say    that    Clear    Lake    and    Russian 
H.  Curtis,  and.r.  L.  Field,  and  E.  Dewitt,  |  River,  be  called  Clear  Lake  Mission, 
who  had  just  arrived  from  the  East.  j        Rev.  J.  L.  Field  was  elected  P>-esiding 


84 


Hlfstory  of  the.    United,  Brethren  in.   Christ  in    Calif oniia. 


Elder,  and  placed  on  Sacranionto  Dis- 
trict, which  gave  him  the  supervision  of" 
all  of  the  territory,  except  Humboldt 
Count3\  C  W.  Gillett  was  ajipointed 
to  Humboldt  District,  and  E.  Dewitt  to 
Humboldt  Circuit. 

The  remainder  ot"  tlit*  ])reachers  were 
stationed  as  follows : 

Clear  Lake  Mission,  .).  W.  and  N.  W. 
Harrow;  Feather  River  Mission,  E.  Har- 
row; Monument  Mission,  J.  L.  Field; 
Fairview  Mission,  J.  Ackerson;  Stockton 
Mission,  G.  C.  Starr;  Paradise  Mission, 
J.  Watt. 

Take  a  view  of  the  work  and  workers 
again.  There  were  troubles  existing  in 
those  days.  Deep  and  fresh  wounds  in 
human  hearts  ;  atTinity  all  gone.  Stand- 
committees  on  grievances  became  a  neces- 
sity. Harsh  words  and  unkind  feelings 
existed.  Alienations  and  extreme  indif-  j 
ference  were  common  among  them,  and 
in  not  a  few  cases,  the  most  rigid  meas- 
ures had  to  be  resorted  to,  in  order  to 
preserve  the  dignity  of  the  Conference. 
Such  was  tlie  state  of  feeling  when  Field 
and  IJex-iitt  came  to  the  Conference. 
And  hail  not  Bishop  Edwards  demanded 
a  close  examination  into  causes  and  in- 
consistencies existing  in  a  variety  of 
rjuarters,  the  work  wo. dd  have  suffered 
very  extensively.  We  still  find  those 
who  once  were  way  marks  in  the  Church, 
but  liave  gone  to  their  former  house. 
They  went  out  in  many  instances  because 
their  Ijurdens  were  greater  then  they 
could  bear.  They  loved  the  Church  aiul 
regard  it  still;  others  waxed  cold  and  left 
the  Church,  to  seek  subterfuge  among 
those  of  whom  they  were. 

Dr.  Edwards  was  a  strong  man  and 
a  good  disciplinarian.  Ho  referred  the 
troubles  among  brethren  back  to  their 
source  for  adjustment,  and  taught  that 
the  Annual  Conference  could  not  attend 
to  any  work  that  was  not  their  prop- 


erty. This  was  the  entering  wedge  of 
harmony  in  the  Conference,  although  it 
was  not  secured  until  some  3'ears  later.. 


I)K     DVVri)   EDWARDS. 

The  writer  anticipates  that  it  will  be 
painful  to  some  to  hear  these  things, 
but  in  justice  to  brethren  whom  he  loves 
and  whose  labors  we  all  regard,  it  ought 
to  have  a  place.  There  were  a  few  hard 
working,  self  sacrificing  itinerants  here 
to  whom  we  are  indebted,  and  feel  like 
paying  it ;  and  besides  there  are  laymen 
still  among  us  who  have  listened  to  the 
groans  of  the  wounded  and  craved  an 
opportunity  to  assist  in  burying  the 
dead,  lo  whom  wo  owe  this  word  of 
explanation.  Of  whatever  service  La}' 
Delegation  ma}'  now  be,  we  arc  quite 
sure  that  at  that  time  it  would  have 
implicated  the  wholo  society  in  this 
State.  The  laity  held  the  foundations 
while  these  sad,  heart-rending  strifes 
were  sweeping  like  a  tornado  over  the 
heads  of  our  people.  Some  of  the  poor 
weary  itinerants  of  those  daj'^s  often 
point  us  out  the  homes  of  their  friends 
in  the  laity  and  say,  "Had  it  not  been 
for   them   I   do   not   know    what   would 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


35 


lliave  become  of  me  and  my  family. 
<jod  bless  them  ten  thousand  times  for 
itheir  kindness  !"  It  is  due  them  that 
the  causes  of  the  decline  of  this  mis- 
aionary  field  be  placed  where  it  belongs. 
Had  this  been  the  end  of  these  troubles 
we  could  kave  remained  silent,  but  they 
(Continued. 

Once  more  the  brethren  started  out 
■upon  the  work.  Their  field  is  a  diflScult 
one.  It  had  had  so  many  reverses  that 
■confidence  was  almost  gone.  The  death 
•of  Brother  Jakeway  also  saddened 
their  hearts.  He  was  a  power  among 
them — a  nobleman  indeed.  A  member 
of  the  Conference  said  of  him:  "He 
was  faithful  as  a  Christian  minister  to 
iiis  God  and  to  the  Church.  He  was 
ineek  and  resigned  and  fully  trusted  in 
the  Saviour  during  his  extreme  afflic- 
.tion."  The  following  obituary  was 
iilso  presented  : 

Inasmuch  as  God  has  seen  fit  in  his 
kind  providence  to  take  from  our  midst 
our  beloved  brother,  Eev.  T.  S.  Jake- 
way  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  while  we  as  a  Confer- 
ence deeply  mourn  our  loss,  and  deeply 
-sympathize  with  the  bereaved  family, 
yet  we  meekly  bow  in  submission  and 
say,  *'  Thy  will  be  done."     And  pray  on 


the  account  of  this  and  other  bereave- 
ments that  God  will  raise  up  other  sol- 
diers of  the  cross  in  our  midst. 

How  sad  their  annual  gatherings 
must  have  been  to  some.  Sloane  had 
gone  to  the  silent  land.  Also  Dollar- 
hide  and  Hubbard,  and  now  Brother 
Jakeway,  while  others  of  their  former 
members  were  engaged  in  other  pur- 
suits besides  their  calling  to  preach  the 
Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  still 
others  requesting  that  their  names  be 
removed  from  the  roll. 

HEROISM  AND   VICTORY. 

Had  they  but  stood  the  battle's  rage 

And  raised  tlieir  banners  \\\^\i ; 
Had  they  but  held  tlie  foes  eno-aged 

Till  victory  was  nigh — 
Yea,  h.id  they  stood  like  heroes  brave, 

With  all  their  armor  on, 
Rejoiced  the  call  a  soul  to  save, 

And  knew  a  victory  won. 

Had  they  like  warriors  dealt  the  blow, 

And  gave  the  battle  cry. 
They  could  have  conquered  every  foe. 

Who  dared  their  cause  defy. 
Although  hunger  oft  should  come. 

And  nakedness  abide  ; 
For  God's  supplies  there  is  no  room, 

The  naked  He  will  hide. 

Had  they  but  caught  the  martyr's  zeal, 

And  heard  his  dying  moan. 
His  words  would  make  the  hardest  feel 

The  last  great  words  of  Sloane. 
Yea,  had  they  entered  every  field 

To  which  the  conquest  drew, 
The  foe  to-day  the  ground  would  yield. 
And  we  would  strength  renew. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
^E  shall  devote  this  chapter  to  a 
variety  of  reminiscences  from  the 
•"early  days"  to  the  close  of  the  history. 
We  do  this  in  order  to  avoid  a  too  fre- 
quent interspersing  in  the  various  chap- 
ters of  some  very  interesting  events  that 
transpired  among  the  itinerants.  The 
*' border  ruffians,"  as  they  were  here 
.called,  were  often  more  mindful  of  relig- 
ious duties  than  one  would  have  sup- 
posed. They  were  very  wicked,  and  in 
their  vices  and  crimes  completely  disre- 
garded God,  but  the  presence  of  a  good 


man  often  pioduced  such  a  wonderful 
effect  upon  them  that  they  became  deeply 
convicted  of  their  sins,  and  expressed 
their  desires  to  become  better  men. 
Sometimes,  however,  whisky  would  give 
commands  that  had  to  be  obeyed,  and 
some  of  its  slaves  would  venture  beyond 
all  bounds  of  reason.  Upon  ope  occa- 
sion one  of  our  ]ireachers  made  an  an- 
nouncement that  he  would  preach  in  a 
barroom  in  one  of  the  mining  towns,  there 
being  no  other  place  that  could  be  se- 
!  cured.  The  Bible  and  hvmn  book  were 
j  laid  upon  the  stand  wlieroon  such  sacred 


36 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  Qilifornia. 


treasures  had  never  lain  before,  but  about 
which  gamblers  often  met  to  defraud 
each  other,  and  either  win  or  lose  hard 
earned  "dust,"  The  saloonkeeper  was 
an  Irishman,  but  had  some  degree  of  re- 
spect for  a  minister ;  but  in  the  rear  of 
his  saloon  there  were  apartments  ar- 
ranged for  card  playing,  and  from  one  of 
these  there  came  a  man  about  the  time 
the  services  were  to  commence,  and  took 
the  Bible  from  the  stand  and  laid  down 
a  deck  of  cards.  This  was  somewhat 
embarrassing  for  the  preacher.  He  might 
have  used  them  in  a  practical  sermon 
upon  picture  life,  and  related  the  story 
of  the  Queen  of  the  South,  or  of  the 
King  of  Babylon,  etc.,  until  he  had  ex- 
hausted the  contei\ts  of  the  strange  vol- 
ume before  him,  but  it  was  otherwise 
arranged.  The  salooid<eeper  took  the 
rude  fellow  by  the  arm  and  led  him  hur- 
riedly to  the  door,  where  he  disposed  of 
him  in  a  way  peculiar  to  those  days,  and 
then  turning  to  the  preacher  with  an 
authoritative  look,  said :  "  Now,  sir,  ye's 
ken  go  right  along,  and  I'll  see  to  it 
that  there's  order  kipt."  Theie  was  no 
more  trouble. 

Money  was  no  object  with  them  at  all. 
If  they  liked  the  preacher  they  would 
give  him  quite  a  nugget.  Their  liberality 
did  not  grow  out  of  the  flush  condition  of 
things  so  much,  perhaps,  as  it  did  out  of 
their  utter  disregard  for  the  glittering 
treasure.  What  did  thc^y  euro  whether 
they  had  a  thousand  dollars  or  but  (nw  '■' 
They  gambled  and  drank  until  it  was  all 
gone,  and  then  frequently,  with  swollen 
eyes,  a  bruised  nose,  and  blood  clodded 
lips,  would  start  again  only  to  try  their 
hands  for  anothiM-  "raise"  from  the 
"bedrock." 

Slang  phrases  were  .|uite  connnon 
among  the  miners.  It  was  ditlicidt  for 
some  of  them  to  talk  without  using  moie 
or  less  of   this  pseudo  language.     It  is 


related  that  in  one  of  the  towns  a  very 
prominent  saloonkeeper  had  died,  and 
that  the  "boys"  made  arrangements  to- 
give  him  a  religious  funeral  service.  One 
of  them  was  to  get  the  coffin,  others  to- 
dig  the  grave,  and  still  others  to  attend 
to  securing  pall  bearers  and  a  Gospel 
minister  to  perform  the  solenni  funeral 
rites  of  their  departed  saloonist.  But. 
now  came  the  task,  who  shall  go  for  the 
minister';:'  The  man  of  God  lived  in  the 
other  end  of  the  town,  just  across  the 
street  from  the  church.  None  of  the 
"boys"  had  ever  attended  his  cluirch,. 
and  felt  that  to  secure  his  service  was  a 
more  solemn  thing  than  the  event  of 
death  itself.  Finally  one  of"  them — "a 
fine  chap" — said  he  would  go.  To  use 
slang  phrases  now  would  not  do  ;  he  must 
talk  "a  straight  deal."  Hear  him  as  he 
gives  notice  by  a  heavy  (hump  that  there 
is  some  one  at  the  door  of  the  preacher's- 
residence.  The  door  opens,  and  the  mes- 
senger says  to  the  man  of  the  house,. 
"Good  morning,  boss.  Are  you  the  duck 
that  runs  the  Gospel  mill  just  over  the 
way?"  "What  is  that  you  asked?"  saitB 
the  minister.  Tlie  messenger  was  con- 
fused, and  said,  "Excuse  me,  pard  ;  I'll 
try  another  deal.  Are  you  the  chief 
clerk  of  the  doxology  works  over  tl»e 
way?"  "I  am  sure  I  do  not  understand 
you,"   said   the   minister.      "Well,   I   wilf 

try  anothei-  deal,  pard.     .1 ,  the  salooiu 

boss  down  town,  died  again,  aiul  I  hev 
come  up  to  get  j'ou  to  help  to  plant 
him.  ril  just  tell  you,  bottom  dollai-, 
what  I  want.  I  want  to  get  a  GospeF 
sharp."  "It  is  a  parson,  I  think,  you 
want  to  get,"  said  the  minister.  "You 
struck  the  lead,  boss.  A  parson  ;  that's 
the  kind  of  a  chap  I  want  to  get."  The 
occasion  was  an  impressive  one,  and  from 
it  then-  sprang  up  an  interest  that  re- 
sulted in  the  conversion  of  quite  a  nuni- 
l)er  of  the  "roughs,"  and  the  messenger 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


37 


who  caiuo  for  the  parson  became  one  of 
the  leading  ones  among  tlie  number  con- 
verted. We  may  be  encourged  that 
often  the  most  wretched  and  degraded 
ones  first  accept  proffered  mercy,  while 
many  who  claim  to  be  moral  men  stand 
back  and  hinder  the  cause  of  God. 
Selfish  morality  is  indeed  a  poor,  sickly 
creature,  that  always  refuses  the  tonic  it 
ought  to  take. 

There    were    tricksters    among    the 
people  iu  those  days,  and  many  are  the 
men  who  were  deceived  by  them.     The 
most  renowned  swindlers  of  the  world 
came   to    California  in   the  early  daya 
and  set  up  their  gambling  cabs  in  the 
mining   towns,    and    by    their    unholy 
cunning  heaped  unto  themselves  other 
men's    hard    earned    money.     Society, 
also,    was   exceedingly   corrupt.      The 
uncivilized  Indian  and  Mexican  roamed 
promiscuously.     Women,  the    intuitive 
civilizers  of  men  were  not  to  be  seen, 
except  in  a  few  cases,  and  to  her  shame, 
often      of    au     abandoned    character. 
Above  forty   nationalities  were   repre- 
sented among  the  immigrants.    Imagine 
what   a   motley   crowd.      There    were 
Jews  who  for  the  sake  of  business  did 
not  keep  the  "seventh   day,"  and   be- 
cause of  unbelief,  disregarded  the  "first 
day  of  the  week."     The   Mongrels  of 
the  country  were  Catholics,  and  were 
not  even  civilized,  much  less  Christian- 
ized.    Their  influence   was   pernicious. 
They  are  the  fruits  of  the  early  Span- 
ish missions  established  here,  of  which 
we  have  already  spoken.     The  Indian 
in  his  nude  state  only  learned  that  those 
who  should  have   taught  them  of  the 
"Living  Spirit"  were  laying  plans  to 
contract  the  ruin  of  their  families  and 
spread  vice  and  immorality  all  over  and 
throughout  their  camps.     They  did  not 
know  that  they  were  naked  until  the 
•white  man — O,  shame  to  bis   race ! — 


violated  the  rules  of  chastit3'  that  God 
implanted  in  the  breasts  of  his  creatures. 
The  Church  had  a  hard  struggle,  arid 
has  made  but  little  advance  in  the  di- 
rection of  reforming  them  in  these  things. 
But  there  were  men  here  from  France 
with  their  aristocratic  ideas  of  a  biv- 
ouac and  their  utter  ignorance  of  vital 
godliness.  The  Irishman  was  repre- 
sented with  wit  and  whisky  blended  to 
aid  each  other  in  their  work  of  mis- 
chief. The  Germau  with  his  lager  and 
Sabbath  desecration.  John  Chinaman 
with  his  paper  Josh  and  pasteboard 
"Schin"  had  a  place  here.  The  dilfer- 
ent  classes  made  marks  peculiar  to 
their  kind.  Society  was  all  mixed  up. 
It  was  a  kind  of  an  amalgamated  mass 
of  conglomerated  entities,  with  here 
and  there  a  tangible  preceptor.  Some 
lived  only  to  eke  out  a  miserable  exist- 
ence ;  others  to  enjoy  themselves  iu 
feeding  upon  the  surplus  of  frugality 
and  economy ;  while  still  others  lay 
concealed  to  rob  their  fellows,  and,  to- 
evade  detection,  slay  the  j)oor  victim 
and  hide  him  in  some  unfrequented  can- 
yon. In  1864,  Bishop  D.  Shuck  anti/ 
wife  were  stopped  by  highwaymen,  and 
their  goods  taken  from  them.  Brother 
and  sister  S.  have  favored  us  with  the 
following  very  interesting  account  of 
the  whole  affair : 

HIGHWAYMEN   ATTACK    BISHOP  SHl(|<;  \s\' 
WIFE. 

On  the  27th  day  of  October,  1864,  at 
dark,  while  pursuing  our  journey,  about 
six  miles  from  Oroville,  we  were  attacked 
by  two  highway  robbers  who  met  us  iu 
the  vf'Ay.  As  we  were  moving  along 
slowly,  one  of  them  seized  my  right 
hand,  at  the  same  time  presenting  his 
revolver  to  my  breast,  demanding  '-my 
money  or  my  life."  I  gave  him  what 
change  I  had  in  my  pocket.     Then  be 


:]8 


History  of  l/ie   United  Brethren  in  Christ  in   California. 


demanded  my  revolver.  I  informed 
him  that  I  did  not  carrj^  a  revolver. 
After  he  searched  me  and  satisfied  him- 
self that  I  told  the  truth,  ho  ordered 
me  out  of  the  buggy,  tied  ray  arms 
with  a  rope,  and  ordered  me  forward  to 
the  side  of  my  horse.  Then  the  other 
man  led  the  horse  about  one  hundred 
yards  from  the  road  into  a  basin — the 
one  in  charge  of  me  all  the  time  hold- 
ing his  revolver  cocked  near  my  breast. 
When  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  main 
road  my  wife  was  ordered  to  get  out  of 
the  buggy,  and  was  thoroughly  searched 
for  money.  The  trunk  Avas  broken 
open  and  all  the  good  clothing  was 
taken  out  of  it.  The  satchels  were 
taken  out  of  the  buggy,  broken  open, 
and  all  valuables  taken  out  of  them. 
My  person  was  searched,  and  my  gold 
watch  and  pocket  knife  taken — in  all, 
they  robbed  us  in  value  of  more  than 
one  hundred  dollars.  When  they  were 
fully  satisfied  that  they  had  gotten  all 
that  was  worth  taking,  they  loosed  m}' 
arms,  ordered  us  into  the  buggy,  and 
ordered  me  with  an  oath  to  drive  to- 
wards OroviUe.  With  the  Butte  Moun- 
tains to  guide  us  in  our  course,  we  soon 
rounded  into  the  main  road  again,  and 
between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  we  ar- 
rived at  Father  Boul ware's,  where  we 
received  a  hearty  welcome.  Sixty 
miles'  travel  this  day,  robbed  of  all 
our  good  clothing  and  of  our  money, 
except  of  a  five  dollar  greenback,  worth 
two  dollars,  closed  a  tour  of  more  than 
fifteen  hundred  railes  in  my  own  con- 
veyance, in  wearisome  journeyings  and 
arduous  official  and  ministerial  labors 
in  the  cause  of  the  Divine  Master. 
Thanks  be  to  God  for  his  sustaining 
grace. 

1).  AND    U.  B.  SUUCK. 
BiJKNEVViLLK,  Afarch  19tli,  1S70. 


Rev.  H.  J.  Becker — Dear  Brother  : 
This  sketch  is  one  of  the  most  memor- 
able days  of  my  itinerant  life  and  is  at 
your  disposal.  If  j'ou  think  3'ou  can  use 
it  in  an}''  way  to  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  good  of  others,  do  so. 

Yours,  fraternall}', 

D.  Shuck. 

Several  of  our  brethren  also  had  very 
narrow  escapes  from  the  Indians.  Rev. 
C.  W.  Gillett  had  frequently  to  travel 
at  night  to  evade  the  poisoned  arrows 
of  the  savages.  Rev.  A.  Mussehnan 
come  nearly  being  shot  by  an  Indian 
at  Cape  Mendocino,  while  on  his  way 
to  his  appointments.  The  missile  of 
death  came  near  him,  but  passed  by. 

It  is  worthy  to  note  that  many  of 
these  wild  men  of  the  woods  became 
religious,  and  lead,  and  are  still  leading 
pious  and  devoted  lives.  Rev.  J.  L. 
Field  preached  to  tiie  "diggers"  at 
I'ppcr  Lake  several  years  ago.  This 
was  done  through  an  interpreter.  In 
reply  to  the  question  by  Bro.  Field 
where  the  Indian  went  at  death,  they 
said,  "  Indian,  he  keep  gude,  he  go  in 
the  sky;  but  if  him  no  gude,  he  go  in 
the  ground."  This  shows  that  they 
have  a  sense  of  right  and  wrong,  and 
that  morals  are  of  value  to  them. 
These  Indians  sa}-,  "white  man  he 
learn  us  to  do  bad — play  cards  and 
gamble;  he,  he,  like  Avhite  man,  like 
Indian."  Our  Conference  took  steps 
one  year  ago  to  labor  among  these 
Indians. 

We  wish  now  to  answer  ofc  repeated 
questions,  hoping  that  the  eyes  of  some 
one  concerned  will  fall  upon  them.  The 
questions  are  asked  by  letters  from 
people  in  the  East  concerning  lost,  or 
missing  loved  ones.  A  mother  inquires 
for  her  son;  a  sister  for  her  brother, 
and  often  wives  for  liieir  long  absent 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


3a 


husbands.  We  received  a  letter  lately 
making  inquiry  for  a  husband  who  had 
been  away  for  twenty  years.  The  wife 
wrote  with  all  of  the  wai'mth  and  ten- 
derness of  a  young  bride.  We  can  but 
say  to  these  anticipating  ones,  that  there 
are  so  many  things  in  the  early  history 
of  this  State,  that  cannot  here  be  ex- 
plained, biit  would  aid  them  in  conclud- 
ing the  result  were  they  known  to 
them.  There  were  many  killed  by  ac- 
cident, and  very  many  were  waylaid 
and  murdered  for  their  money.  Some 
time  since  in  passing  a  burial  ground 
in  one  of  the  old  mining  towns,  I  saw 
under  the  clustering  shades  of  some 
trees  at  the  entrance  of  the  yard,  the 
inscription  "MEMENTO  MORI."  Let 
that  be  the  answer.  Let  all  "remem- 
ber death." 

Popular  amusements  are  cursing  so- 
ciety here,  and  especially  the  churches. 
The  Church  is  too  much  like  -the  world. 
They  argue  that  they  must  be  lenient 
to  win  the  world,  but  the  world  wins 
every  time.  They  are  making  strong 
inroads  upon  the  Church,  and  will  soon 
destro}^  what  little  power  yet  remains. 
"Parties  and  festivals,  concerts  and 
vocal  exercises,"  are  the  go,  while 
God's  cause  is  languishing.  We  have 
before  us  a  letter  received  in  Sacra- 
mento while  pastor  there  to  come  to 
one  of  these  soul-destroying,  life-crush- 
ing, church-desecrating  entertainments. 
We  have  quite  a  lot  of  invitation  cards 
to  these  irreligious  gatherings  but  never 
went.  We  have  had  nothing  of  the 
kind  in  our  church,  and  we  hope  never 
will  have.  God's  house  is  a  house  of 
prayer  and  not  a  place  to  traffic  in  sin- 
ful practices. 

The  lodge  question  should  receive  a 
more  explicit  review  than  it  has  had  in 
the  first  chapter  of  this  history.  We 
are  aware  that  it  is  a  delicate  question, 


and  the  friends  of  the  lodge  would 
rather  that  we  remain  silent.  But  inas- 
much as  they  will  "not  interfere  with 
religion,"  it  becomes  the  Church  to 
interfere  with  her  members  who  are 
not  held  under  religious  restraint  in  the 
lodge.  Men  ought  to  be  religiously 
amenable  somewhere,  and  if  the  lodge 
refuses  to  attend  to  that  duty,  let  the 
Church  step  out  upon  the  platform  of 
restraint  and  mete  out  the  law  and  the 
Gospel  to  her  adherents.  Brother 
Sloane  wrote  soon  after  he  came  here 
(1859)  that  there  were  many  obstacles 
in  the  way  of  success  to  the  Church 
here,  but  the  most  difficult  one  was 
secreD  societies.  Whenever  society 
goes  so  far  as  to  take  the  sacred  Bible 
into  their  organic  union,  and  even  em- 
ploy emblems  from  the  word  of  the 
Lord,  and  jQt  when  one  desires  to  speak 
of  the  religion  of  Christ,  he  interferes 
with  the  institution,  and  is  informed  that 
he  must  not  talk  the  sentiments  of  the 
iSible  in  the  lodge,  then  I  ask,  may 
not  wo  advocate  the  teachings  of  the 
good  old  Book  of  books  ?  Yea,  verily^ 
and  wo  shall  see  well  to  it  that  it  is 
done.  The  following  extract  shows 
that  the  Church  that  tolerates  this 
social  amalgamation  is  in  danger  of 
becoming  corrupted  by  wicked  and  iu^ 
famous  men  : 

Some  time  a<ro  the  French  Masons  renOiihceci 
tli'i  Deity  in  all  Masonic  rites.  Enohsh  and  Amer- 
ican Masons  protested  aa:ainst  the  non-reco.irni- 
tion  of  the  Deity  by  the  French  lodges,  ar.d  refused 
fellowship  with  them.  The  Masons  of  France  are 
about  to  invite  their  Anjilo-Saxon  brethren  to 
meet  them  at  Paris  and  reconsider  their  action. 
If  the  Ano-lo-Saxon  Masons  persist  in  their  vesolu-- 
tmn,  or  refuse  to  attend  the  meeting-,  then  iiiV 
French  Masons  will  set  up  for  themselves,  and  es- 
tal)lish  rival  lodges  in  England,  America,  and  else- 
where. 

Shall  the  Church  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
tolerate  an  institution  that  disregards  the 
Deity.  IMiere  are  indeed  many  in  Amer- 
ican lodges  who  disl>elieve  in  God,  and 
who  are  ready  to  join  their  French  breth- 


40 


History  of  the   United  Brethren  in   Christ  in   Ccdifornia. 


reu  in  the  utter  exclusion  of  the  Suj)reine 
Being.  They,  in  fact,  have  ah-eady  ex- 
cluded Christ,  and  need  not  stoop  to  in- 
clude the  "Holy  Trinity."  The  extract 
below  shows  that  they  recognize  God  by 
no  greater  titles  proper  than  those  ap- 
plied to  the  officers  of  the  lodge,  and 
that  they  do  send  men  to  the  "Celestial 
Lodge  above."  They  exclude  the  onh/ 
name  by  which  we  can  be  saved,  and  yet 
remove  from  their  earthly  lodge  to  the 
lodge  above  those  who  arc  brought  into 
the  temple. 

"  Wheke.vs,  It  has  pleased  the  Supreme  Grand 
Master  in  His  All  Wise  dispensation  to  remove,  by 
de;'.tli,  from  his  plaee  in  this  Lodye  and  his  sphere 
of  usefulness  here  below  to  that  Celestial  Loduc 
above  where  the  weary  are  at  rest,  our  much  be- 
loved brother  and  co-worker,  George  Henry  Krause, 
therefore,"  etc. 

Shall  the  Church  become  brother-in- 
law  to  such  a  society  ?  No  !  with  hercu- 
leati  emphasis.  NO  !  NEVER  !  !  Yet 
with  all  of  this  the  U,  B.  Church  is  as- 
sailed for  excluding  from  her  pales  those 
who  do  these  things.  The  "jewel"  (a 
.silent  tongue)  of  Masonry  frequently 
tears  loose  and  spends  its  strength  in 
slang  shot  and  virulence  upon  those  who 
cry  for  "separation*  from  the  ungodly." 
Shall  we  allow  this  social  polygamy  by 
tlie  Church  and  the  lodge  ?  Shall  we 
allow  those  who  promise  to  b(?  "true  to 
th<'  bride  and  to  her  only,"  join  them- 
selves to  another  even  more  binding? 
*'  No,"  is  tho  response  of  every  noble  and 
generous  heart,  "we  must  be  a  'separate 
peo[)le.'  "  Let  it  be  known  that  the 
I'liited  Brethren  in  Christ  are  not  alone 
in  this  reform.  Every  Christian  denomi- 
nati(jn  of  which  we  have  any  knowledge 
lias  representative  men  who  pul)licly  pro- 
claim against  the  lodge,  and  some  of 
whom  have  themselves  belonged  to  dif- 
ferent secret  orders.  Also,  ({uite  a  num- 
ber of  churches  have  excluded  secret  so- 
ciety members  from  church  fellowship. 

Notice  the  insults  that  are  heaped  uixtn 


the  people  of  God  while  they  are  "ear- 
nestly contending  for  the  faith  once  de- 
livered unto  the  saints."  One  year  ago, 
when  the  writer  was  taking  up  the  regu- 
lar Sabbath  contribution  in  Sacramento 
City,  some  one  threw  into  the  hat  the 
enormous  sum  of  ten  cents — just  one 
dime.  Turn  it  over,  will  3-0U,  and  see 
the  other  side.     Here  we  have  it. 


Remember  now  to  "square"  your  lives 
by  it.  I  ask,  what  mean  tliese  compasses 
that  encompass  the  comers  thereto  ? 

But  see  here.  Look  at  this  horrible 
looking  thing — a  compliment  to  Rev. 
D.   U.  Hart,  our  present  citv  jiastor. 


This  is  a  representative  of  the  eftects 
ol  Prussic  acid.  The  state  of  this  poor 
wretch  may  have  been  brought  al>out  by 
the  illegitimate  extra-judicial  act  of  the 
lodge,  for  their  oaths  require  life  in  case 
of  the  violation  of  the  Masonic  obliga- 
tion. This  graveyard  messenger  was 
put  in  the  hat  for  Brother  Hart  in  the 
city  a  few  months  ago.  It  is  a  good  Icdief 
to  p,ut  on  a  poison  bottle,  but  a  very  per- 
sonal lihijl  to  put  in  a  man's  hat  and  upon 
a  man's  character.  Why  not  throw  in 
the  eml>lem  of"  the  lamb,  ov  of  the  olive 
branch,  or  the  dove  ?  Ah  I  They  used 
the  fittest  emblem  in  the  lodge  to  remind 
him  that  he  "must  die" — ])e  "brought 
to  the  dust." 

The  United  Brethren  in  Cluist  are 
firm  and  sanguine  in  their  convictions  as 
to  this  wicked  institution.  Her  ministry 
are  to-day  tiiic  to  th(>  man,  and  just  so 
long  as  the  lodge  arrays  itself  against  the 
Church  of  the  living  God,  just  so  long 
will  thev  stand  for  the  riirht. 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


41 


\Ve  here  give  a  letter  to  the  Sacra- 
mento Jiee  that  meets  our  approval,  and 
w^ill,  we  trust,  become  more  and  more 
agitated  until  its  siiggestions  are  heeded. 

Newark,  Sierra  (/ounty,  / 
November  27th,  1878.  \ 
Eduors  Bee:  It  seems  strange,  after 
all  that  has  been  said  about  ridding  the 
•State  of  the  Chinese,  that  nothing  in  that 
•direction  can  be  effected  by  legislation. 
Allow  me  to  state  briefly  what,  to  my 
mind,  would  be  the  first  step  towards 
that  desired  end :  it  is  the  total  suppres- 
.sion  of  all  secret  societies.  I  say,  with- 
out fear  of  contradiction,  that  it  is  these 
societies  that  keep  the  Chinese  here,  and 
so  long  as  they  exist  so  long  will  the 
Chinese  remain.  Besides  there  are  va- 
rious leasons  why  they  ought  to  be  sup- 
pressed. In  the  first  place,  they  are  of 
foreign  origin  and  contrary  to  the  spirit 
of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
and  of  this  State  ;  next,  they  are  partisan 
institutions  as  every  honest  man  will 
admit,  for  if  they  were  benevolent,  what 
they  outwardly  profess  to  be,  they  would 
need  no  mask  nor  iron-clad  oath  in  defi- 
;aiice  of  law  to  shield  them  ;  also  they  are 
inimical  to  the  best  interests  of  the  State, 
for  they  are  in  opposition  to  the  supreme 
will  of  the  people,  which  is  the  law  of 
the  State,  and  justice  cannot  be  properly 
administered  where  such  a  state  of  so- 
ciety exists.  This  partisanship  pervades 
the  whole  political  system  from  a  town- 
ship oflice  up  to  that  of  Governor,  but 
where  it  is  most  baneful  and  most  to  be 
feared  is  in  the  jury  box  and  on  the 
Bench.  It  is  a  well  known  fact  that 
juries,  composed  wholly  or  in  part  of  par- 
tisans, are  nothing  more  or  less  than  a 
farce  upon  justice,  and  even  the  judicial 
ermine  in  some  instances  is  not  stain- 


less. Such  a  state  of  things  is  deplor- 
able and  ought  not  to  exist,  in  ray  hum- 
ble opinion.  The  only  secret  society 
there  could  be  any  toleration  or  excuse 
for  in  any  country  is  one  organized 
purely  and  solely  for  the  overthrow  of 
a  despotism,  but  as  that  cannot  be  the 
object  here,  the  sooner  these  institu- 
tions are  abolished  and  society  placed 
upon  a  broader  and  purer  basis  the 
better,  and  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion now  assembled  will  not  be  doing 
its  duty  to  the  State  if  it  does  not  insert 
a  clause  in  the  new  Constitution  pro- 
hibiting them ;  but  should  it  not  be 
inclined  to  go  so  for  it  ought  at  least 
change  the  jury  law  so  that  a  member 
of  a  secret  society  would  be  disqualified 
to  serve  as  juror  in  criminal  cases  where 
a  brother  member  would  be  on  trial 
and  in  a  civil  case  where  a  brother 
member  Avould  be  interested;  also  no 
member  of  a  secret  society  ought  to  be 
eligible  to  a  Judicial  office  or  to  any 
political  office.  Should  these  provisions 
be  carried  out,  justice  would  become  what 
it  ought  to  be,  not  what  it  is — a  mockery. 
Daniel  Boland. 

The  United  Brethren  are  prosj)ering 
here,  and  good  men  of  various  churches 
are  throwing  off  the  "iron  band"  and 
standing  out  in  the  broad  light  of  lib- 
erty. May  wo  not  appeal  to  some  of 
the  professed  followers  of  Christ  to 
come  out  of  these  lodges,  and  enter  the 
pales  of  the  Church  of  the  living  God? 
Why  be  bound  to  an  institution  that 
is  in  opposition  to  the  laws  of  God,  and 
of  the  land?  "  Come  thou  wiih  us  and 
we  will  do  thee  good,  for  the  Lord  has 
spoken  good  concerning  Israel." 


CHAPTER  vin. 
ip|)ISHOP  J.  DIXON  presided  at  the 
MS)  Conference  held  at  Gridley,  in 
Butte  County,  in  May,  1872.  Rev.  D. 
K.  Fliekinger,  our  Missionary  Secre- 
taiy,  was  also  present  at  this  session, 
and    ilcv.   J.   H.   Young,   of   the   Rock 


j  Hiver  Cotit'erence,  who  came  with  a 
view  of  traveling  here.  Rev.  E.  Dewitt 
was  received  on  his  transfer,  and  Rev. 
J.  L.  Field,  subject  to  his  transfer.  Rev. 
John  McBride  joined  the  Annual  Con- 
ference at  this  sitting.  P.  Boulware 
requested  a  dismissal  IVom  the  Churcli, 


42 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  Qilifornia. 


which  was  granted.  The  various  reso- 
lutions of  the  Conference  indicated  that 
the  work  was  looking  up  to  better  days. 
The  visit  also  of  Bro.  Flickinger  was 
of  real  value  to  the  brethren.  They 
passed  a  resolution  thanking  him  for 
his  "friendly  and  timely  counsel,"  and 
assured  him  that  he  had  their  prayers. 
It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  some  of  our 
preachers  can  get  off  thousand  dollar 
speeches,  and  pull  a  fellow  up  by  the 
leverage  power  generally  employed  by 
the  Assessor,  until  one  gives  all  of  his 
loose  cash  and  solvent  credits  to  keep 
from  loosing  liis  real  estate,  and  then 


BI'^Iloi     J     l)l\i)N,  J)     I) 

gets  right  up  and  offers  a  kind  of  a 
panegyric  upon  the  imiJcrative  financial 
monologue,  when  if  .some  other  person 
had  attempted  to  take  up  a  j)enny  col- 
lection, the  jjcople  would  have  demurred 
and  passed  J uilgment  upon  him  and  upon 
the  cause  he  represented  without  I'c- 
spect  to  proofs  of  the  legitimacy  of  his 
claims  and  the  necessit}'^  I'or  his  char- 
ities. Well,  Bro.  F.  is  fortunate  as  a 
''tax  collector,"  and  always  goes  away 


with  the  good  feelings  of  the  men  an(J 
women  from  whom  he  exacts  tithes  at- 
the  "  receipt  of  custom."  Most  of  the- 
money  agents  get  curses  and  personal 
thrusts  for  their  audacity  (?)  but  Bro. 
F.,  the  fortunate  fellow,  gets  thanks- 
and  personal  encomiums  ! 

Bishop  Dixon  rendered  very  profi- 
cient service  at  this  sitting  of  the  Con- 
ference, and  carried  with  him  the  good 
wishes  of  the  brethren  in  the  ministry. 

The  report  on  Missions  will  give  the 
reader  an  idea  of  an  ideal  report,  and 
let  it  be  remembered  that  Bro.  Flickin- 
ger was  the  Chairman  of  that  committee-. 

We,  your  Committee  on  Missions, 
submit  the  following  report  and  recom- 
mend its  adoption  : 

First — We  are  gratified  to  learn  thai, 
during  the  past  3'ear  there  was  collected 
within  our  bounds  thirty-seven  ccnta 
missionary  money  to  the  member,  not- 
withstanding the  unfavorable  circunv 
stances  under  which  the  claims  of  mis- 
sions were  presented  and  the  collections 
taken. 

Second — We  are  more  than  ever  com- 
manded that  the  plan  laid  down  in  our 
Discipline  requiring  the  pastor  of  a 
charge  to  hold  a  general  missionary 
meeting,  and  also  preach  a  missionary 
sermon  and  ap])oint  a  soliciting  com- 
mittee at  every  appointment,  who  with 
himself  shall  canvass  the  class  and  com- 
munity to  solicit  funds  for  missions,, 
should  be  adopted  by  all  of  our  itiner- 
ants. 

Third — We  are  gratified  with  our 
mission  in  Africa,  and  shall  give  it  our 
hearty  support. 

Fourth — Being  a  Mission  Conference,, 
we  will  do  all  we  can  to  increase  the 
contributioni^  of  our  people  to  the  cause 
of  missions  so  as  to  be  able  with  the 
hel])  of  the  Board  to  kec])  all  of  our 
faithful  itinerants  in  the  field,  and  in- 
duce others  to  come  to  our  Conference 
and  become  permanent  laborers  among 
us. 

Now,  there,  reader  you  have  it.     Let- 
us  analyze  the  report.     First  we  have= 


Historij  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  Ccdifornia. 


43 


4iu  expression  of  gratitude  for  what 
good  had  boon  doue  in  collecting  the 
small  sum  of  thirty-seven  cents  jier 
member.  Then  we  have  an  inference 
by  reference  to  unfavorable  circum- 
stances for  the  presentation  and  collect- 
ing of  the  funds.  This  is  followed  up 
hj  the  imperative,  thus  saith  the  Disci- 
pline. Then  comes  a  citation  to  the 
good  Avork  in  Africa  and  a  pledge  of 
support,  which  is  final!}'  climaxed  by  a 
lesson  taken  from  the  Golden  Eule. 
We  call  that  a  close  approximation  to 
the  Latin  phrase,  Atje  quod  agis,  i.  e. 
•'Do  wliat  you  are  doing — finish  what 
you  are  about." 

There  were  five  hundred  dollars  ajjpro- 
jjriated  to  the  missions  for  the  ensuing 
year,  and  two  hundred  and  ten  dollars 
assessed  to  the  various  fields  of  labor. 
The  aj^propriation  from  the  parent 
Board  v,as  eight  hundred  dollars  for 
this  year,  which  gave  them  consider- 
able liberty  to  throw  out  inducements 
for  laborers.  The}^  offered  to  pay  their 
missionaries  one  half  in  advance.  This 
M\'is  a  mistake,  and  resulted  in  the  loss 
of  some  money. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Young  did  not  remain  here 
very  long,  but  soon  became  homesick, 
find  went  back  to  Illinois.  It  has  al- 
ways been  difficult  to  get  men  to  come 
here,  or  stay  in  the  ministry,  or  in  the 
field  long  Avhen  they  did  come.  There 
iire  more  at  work  now  than  there  have 
been  at  any  previous  time  since  the 
organization  of  the  Conference  in  the 
State.  But  that  many  of  them  are 
established  here  is  a  matter  yet  in  the 
futui'e.  No  one  stands  committed. 
Fiickinger  once  said  that  the  only  wa}^ 
to  succeed  in  a  certain  territory  was  to 
send  men  into  it  who  wanted  to 
go  to  heaven  from  that  territor3^  Cal- 
ifornia is  now  more  permanently  estab- 
lished,   however,    in  her  church   work 


than  ever  before,  and  will,  by  the  bless- 
ings of  God,  succeed  in  the  future  with- 
out a  doubt. 

The  Conference  of  1873  was  to  have 
convened  near  Woodbridge,  but  finally, 
after  the  members  gathered  to  a  camp 
meeting  that  was  in  progress  at  the 
time  and  place  of  the  Conference,  they 
received  word  that  they  should  omit 
holding  the  Conference  at  the  time. 
Paul  said,  years  ago,  what  many  should 
heed  with  profit  to-day,  viz  :  "  When 
sinners  entice  thee,  consent  thou  not  " 
One  high  in  the  cause  of  the  Master, 
fell  into  a  temptation  that  came  very 
nearly  doing  mischief,  "  but  God  forgave 
him,  seeing  he  did  it  ignorantly." 

"  Do  not  rashly  judge  Iby  brother, 

]f  he  stamljle  in  the  way  ; 
Life's  beset  with  sore  temptation  — 

He  has  fallen,  and  you  may. 
0  !  1  think  it  ill  becomes  us 

Thus  to  judge  our  brother's  case  : 
Let  us  wait  till  we  have  triumphed, 

Standing  in  the  self  same  place." 

There  were  none  of  the  Bishops  here 
at  this  time.  The  preachers,  Avith  few 
exceptions,  resumed  their  respective 
fields  under  the  district  supervision  of 
Bro.  Field,  the  Presiding  Elder,  and 
continued  to  labor  for  another  j^ear. 
G.  C.  Starr,  however,  lost  his  fidelity  to 
the  cause,  and  after  some  gross  misrep- 
resentations and  very  unjust  and  unbe- 
coming actions,  left  the  field  to  which 
the  committee  had  assigned  him,  and 
refused  to  refund  one  hundred  dollars 
money  that  he  had  drawn  upon  condi- 
tion of  rendering  good  service  for  it, 
which  thing  he  never  did.  The  Confer- 
ence passed  an  act  of  censure  upon  his 
conduct,  and  erased  his  name  from  the 
Conference  Journal. 

Eev.  J.  L.  Field  labored  very  hard 
during  these  years.  The  same  may  be 
said  of  Kev.  J.  W.  Harrow.  He  is  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  the  State,  and  has 
served  the  Conference  ever  since  its 
beginning  here. 


4i 


ITi^lorj  of  the   United  Brethren  in  Chriai  in   Gdifornia. 


The  Conference  of  1874,  convened  at 
Woodbridge,  San  Joaquin  County. 
Bishop  J).  Edwards  presided  at  this 
session  of  the  Conference.  This  was 
his  second  trip  to  the  coast,  and  in  the 
providence  of  God,  the  h\st  visit  he 
made  to  these  parts,  for  the  angel 
of  death  came  to  take  him  awaj'  to  his 
home  in  the  beyond.  The  people  still 
speak  of  his  Sabbath  morning  sermon 
as  one  of  the  best  efforts  to  which 
they  ever  listened.  His  subject  was 
upon  Elijah,  the  great  prophet  of  God. 
And  when  he  (Edwards)  arrived  at  the 
time  and  place  of  the  approaching 
chai'iot,  he  took  his  auditors  through 
the  sensations  tliat  would  naturally 
follow  such  a  scene,  until  he  had  them 
all  wrapped  in  eager  expectation,  when 
suddenly  the  fiery  steeds  rushed  into 
the  scene,  and  the  prophet,  leaning 
forward,  leaped  into  the  glowing  ve- 
hicle and  was  out  of  sight.  But  just 
at  this  instant,  the  Doctor  let  his 
handkerchief  fall  as  the  mantle  of 
Elijah  fell,  when  the  entire  audience 
felt  a  peculiar  realization  of  the  event, 
such  as  they  had  never  realized  before. 
Dr.  Edward's  descriptive  powers  were 
great,  and  served  hini  greatly  in  im- 
pressing the  people  with  the  truth.  Ho 
had  the  power  to  shape  his  theme  so 
that  it  would  appear  like  a  living 
creature,  with  eyes,  and  a  mouth,  and 
hands,  and  feet — a  moving,  talking, 
mental  or  spiritual  giant,  whose  foot- 
steps lingered  at  the  door  of  your  un- 
standing,  until  you  urged  him  to  enter 
and  take  full  possession  of  all  you  had. 
This  Church  may  never  have  another 
Edwards,  hut  the  writer  is  glad  to 
note  that  there  is  an  Elisha  upon  whom 
"the  mantle  of  Edwards  has  fallen," 
and  God  be  praised,  the  waters  are 
being  divided  and  God's  people  are 
crossing  in  the  land  of  rest.     They  are 


coming  nearer  the  furnace  and  asking: 
the  greater  I'efiner  to  purify  them,  and. 
"cleanse  them  from  all  lilthiness  of  the 
flesh,"  so  that  the}'  may  be  able  to 
"perfect  holiness  in  the  fear  of  the 
Lord." 

But  Wt'  pus.H  to  the  Conlc-rence  and 
to  its  deliberations  briefly.  Kcv.  Phile- 
mon Beck  joined  the  Confei'cnce  at  this 
sitting.  Humboldt  and  Sacramento  dis- 
tricts were  consolidated,  and  the  dis- 
trict called  California  district.  Bro. 
Field  was  j)laced  on  the  district.  It 
consisted  of  seven  appointments,  wiili 
a  travel  of  three  thousand  miles  dur- 
ing the  year.  But  notwithstanding 
the  hardshi2)s  to  be  borne,  Jjto.  Field 
filled  his  appointments  and  stuod  at  his- 
post  without  a  lailure.  He  crossed  the 
mountains  several  times  from  the  Sac- 
ramento Valley  to  the  Humboldt  work, 
a  distance  of  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  miles,  on  horseback.  One  night  a 
mountain  panther  came  near  him  where 
ho  had  camped  for  the  night,  and  kept 
up  a  7nost  awful  cry  for  houi-s.  It 
I  made  the  cold  chills  run  over  him.  His- 
!  horse  shuddered  with  fear,  and  sought 
protection.  It  was  a  dangerous  place 
to  be  in.  The  wild  beasts  might  htive 
'  torn  him  to  pieces,  but  He  who  sent 
1  an  angel  to  close  the  mouths  of  the 
I  lions  in  the  den  at  J^abylon,  was  well 
i  acquainted  with  the  s^ituatiou  of  his 
servant,  and  would  keep  him  in  safety. 
"For  as  the  hills  are  round  about  Jeru- 
salem, so  the  angel  of  the  Lord  en- 
campeth  round  about  them  that  fear 
him." 

The  year  1874  being  the  centennial 
I  year  of  our  Church,  the  Conference 
I  passed  the  following  appropriate  resolu- 
I  tion: 

I  WiiKRKAS,  Goil  in  his  providence  has 
;  raised  up  a  pcoj)le  known  as  the  United 
I  Brothrcn   in   Chi'ist — :•    j)eople  who  are 


Historij  of  the  United  Brethren  in   Christ  in  California. 


willing  to  liear  the  Cross  lor  their 
Master;  iiud 

Whereas,  A.  D.  1874  is  the  3'car  set 
apart  by  the  General  Conference,  to  be 
celebrated  by  the  Church  as  the  cen- 
tennial of  our  Zion  in  J\meriea;  there- 
lore, 

Jicymlrrd,  First— That  we  liail  with 
jo}""  the  centennial  year. 

Second — That  as  ministers  and  peojjle 
we  reconsecrate  ourselves,  our  fannlies, 
and  our  property  to  the  Master's  cause. 

Third — That  we  will  work  with 
greater  zeal  than  ever  before  for  the 
various  interests  of  the  Church,  and  to 
advance  scriptural  holiness  among  us  on 
this  coast,  so  that  w^e  may  bo  able  to 
nay  ere  long  that  Ave  have  sufficiently 
ju'ogressed  in  the  work  to  assume  finan- 
cial responsibilities,  and  lie  no  longer 
dependent  on  the  Parent  Board,  but 
bear  a  part  in  general  with  our  sister 
conferences  in  carrying  forward  the 
various  enterj)rise8  of  the  Church. 

Fourth — That  as  a  Conference,  we 
appoint  a  committee  to  draft  a  pro- 
gramme lor  a  general  centenary  meet- 
ing some  time  during  this  Conference 
sessioii,  and  that  such  meetings  bo  held 
throughout  the  territory,  the  same  to 
be  announced  through  the  Eeliqioub 
Telescope. 

Twenty-five  years  of  our  history 
had  now  elapsed  since  our  people  first 
came  to  the  State  and  set  up  their 
standard  here.  They  had  preached  the 
Gospel  from  the  Nevada  line  on  the  east, 
to  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco  on  the 
west;  and  from  near  Cape  Mendocino  on 
the  north,  to  Tulare  on  the  south.  Their 
itinerants  had  passed  over  mountains 
and  plains  from  the  earliest  times  of 
the  influx  to  the  gold  mines  in  the  rich 
domains  that  had  just  fallen  into  our 
possession.  They  thought  it  a  fitting- 
time  to  give  vent  to  their  feelings,  and 
expression  to  their  sentinents  upon  this 
occasion. 

Reflect  a  moment,  reader.  One  hun- 
dred year  of  "a  great  Christian  denomi- 
nation ■"■   had  passed  away.      During  this 


time  they  had  planted  themselves  firmly 
in  America,  and  had  established  missions 
in  West  Africa,  ni  Canada,  and  in  Ger- 
many. Their  cause  had  assumed  n)am- 
nioth  proportions,  and  was  moving  on 
with  gigantic  power  in  the  aggressive 
conflict  between  righteousness  and  sin. 
Their  peculiar  principles  were  quite 
averse  to  the  popular  views  and  the  so- 
cialistic ideas  of  the  people  ;  and  in  ordei- 
to  maintain  themselves  and  push  tliei!- 
cause  onward,  they  must  endui'e  like 
good  soldiers  the  hottest  of  the  light. 
Those  who  are  acquainted  with  this 
Church  to-day  AvilJ  readily  understand 
what  we  mean  by  the  conflict  rel'ei'red  to- 
above.  Our  Church  seeks  no  other  sonvce- 
or  inducement  to  success  except  the  naked 
merits  of  the  cause  itself.  Even  their 
auxiliaries  are  of  themselves  organic,  and 
are  calculated  to  occupy  an  indispensa- 
ble place  in  the  s[ihere  of  Christian  labor. 
God  has  blessed  them  superabundant) v, 
and  is  still  directing  them  by  his  counsel, 
and  through  the  merits  of  Jesus's  blood 
will  afterwards  receive  them  to  glory. 
At  four  o'clock  on  Sabbath  afternoon 
they  held  a  centenary  meeting  on  the 
Conferejice  giounds.  Rev.  E.  H.  Curtis 
conducted  the  opening  exercises.  This 
was  followed  by  an  addi'ess  on  the  Rise 
and  Progress  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ  by  Doctor  Edwards.  Rev.  C.  W. 
Gillett  then  spoke  of  the  financial  f<;a- 
tures  of  the  Church  and  their  claims 
upon  the  people.  Rev,  J,  L.  Field  then 
followed.  His  subject  vv-as,  "The  Neces- 
sity for  a  greater  Consecration  and  Spir- 
itual Interest  generally."  The  exercises 
were  most  interesting,  and  gave  the  peo- 
ple such  an  idea  of  our  work  and  workers 
as  they  never  had  had  before.  Bishoj) 
Edwards  spoke  at  night  from  the  words, 
"And  the  veil  of  the  temple  was  rent  in 
twain  from  the  top  to  the  bottom."  The 
occasion  was  another  one  of  those  wheiti 


4G 


History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  Calif ornia. 


thujider  clouds  shot  out  tlieir  missiles 
of  concealed  potencies,  lighlin<>-  the 
pathway  from  the  stellar  ])avilion  on 
higli  to  the  dark  abode  where  it  lost  itself 
amidst  the  confusive  rubbish  of  liturgical 
superfluities.  Mt.  Zion  was  portrayed 
to  the  hearer.  The  grandeur  of  the 
"Holiest  of  the  Holy"  was  described 
behind  that  needle  wrought  veil.  l?ays 
ijf  light  stole  out  from  the  mystic  canopy 
of  the  temple,  while  the  crj'  of  the  infu- 
riated mob  as  if  in  mullled  tones  came 
from  Fort  Golgatha  and  minghnl  with  it, 
the  low  sobs  of  distress  fi'om  the  ''daugh- 
ters c>f  Zion,'-  who  were  watching  their 
Lord  in  the  bitter  agonies  of  that  awful 
hour,  and  just  when  the  sun  refused  to 
look  upon  the  sight,  and  the  penumbi-a 
from  the  exterior  world  reached  the  scene, 
and  while  the  low  whispers  of  the  wor- 


shi])pers  was  about  to  die  away  in  the 
distance,  and  the  priest  with  the  blood  of 
expiation  to  enter  the  sanctorum,  a  death- 
like silence  reigned  for  a  moment,  and 
then  with  a  crash,  indescribably  awful, 
but  wonderfully  grand,  the  veil  o(  the 
temple  Avas  rent  in  twain  from  the  top 
to  the  bottom.  Oh,  the  power  of  the 
mighty  Edwards  I 

The  Conference  closed  to  convene  at 
Colusa,  in  Yolo  County,  one  year  hence. 
Bishop  Weaver  was  expected  to  be  pres- 
ent then,  and  the  great  and  good  work 
was  expected  to  move  on,  but  we  are  sorry 
to  have  to  chronicle  that  the  Conference 
lacked  men  to  fill  the  works,  and  suffered 
much  in  conse(juence  of  it.  Yet  amidst 
it  all  success  has  crowned  their  efforts  all 
alono;  the'se  vears. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

fylll']  Conference  of  1875  was  held  at 
Fairview,  Colusa  County,  about 
twelve  miles  west  of  Colusa  City.  That 
Conference  settled  the  question  of  suc- 
cess in  the  State  with  the  United  Breth- 
ren. They  saw  the  necessity  of  taking 
bold  of  the  work  more  vigorously. 
Bishop  Weaver  deserves  great  credit 
for  his  manly  effort  to  supply  this  work 
v.'ith  men.  lie  presented  the  claims  of 
alifornia  Conference  to  the  Board  in 
unmistakable  terms,  and  they  immedi- 
ately issued  a  call  for  two  men.  The 
men  came.  The  Conference  of  1875 
was  a  very  profitable  one.  It  was  at 
this  session  that  Bro.  Weaver  received 
the  five  twenties  in  U.  S.  gold  coin. 
The  lieUgloiifi  Telescope  readers  will  re- 
member what  he  said  about  it.  The 
works  recognized  by  the  Conference 
at  that  time  were  Humboldt  Circuit, 
J'Vathcr  Biver  Mission,  the  Yolo  work, 


including  Monument,  Stockton  and 
Paradise  Mission,  and  the  Clear  Lake 
and  Tulare  Missions. 

We  shall  now  briefl}'  glance  at  the 
work  for  the  four  3'ears  of  labor  since 
we  arrived  u])on  the  coast.  There  were 
but  three  men  in  the  itinerancy  at  this 
time.  Humboldt  County  was  supplied 
by  local  preachers,  with  D.  F)by  as  Pre- 
siding Elder,  but  they  were  expecting 
a  su])ply  from  the  parent  Board.  C.  W. 
Gillett  was  the  Presiding  Elder  of  the 
south  district,  embracing  the  Counties 
of  Tulare,  Stanislaus,  and  San  Joaquin, 
while  J,  L.  Field  presided  over  the  re- 
maining territory.  The  works,  with 
two  exceptions,  were  not  supplied.  The 
writer  came  to  the  work  in  August, 
1875,  and  went  immediately  to  Paradise 
Circuit.  The  travel  around  this  circuit 
was  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  miles. 
This  distance  had  to  be  made  every 
two  weeks  besides  the  extensive  travel 


lllfiiorji  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  California. 


47 


necessary  to  visit  the  scattered  flock. 
The  circuit  was  made  up  of  two  mis- 
sions, viz  :  Stockton  and  Paradise,  and 
was  very  weak.  Tlicy  agreed  to  pay 
?300  for  the  time  intervening  my  arri- 
val and  the  appi'oaching  Annual  Con- 
ference— eight  months.  But  the  Lord 
Messed  the  work  greatly,  and  many 
were  adtled  to  the  C^iuirch,  and  when 
the  time  had  expired,  they  had  paid 
.>'S00  or  SI 0(1  per  month.  The  second 
year  the}'  j)aid  $117  per  month.  Ilev. 
G.  W.  Burtner  also  met  with  unprece- 
dented success  at  llumbohJt.  He  reached 
his  field  in  October,  1875,  and  remained 
nearly  three  years,  during  which  sev- 
eral protracted  efforts  were  held  in  the 
•church  and  upon  the  camp  ground  that 
resulted  in  numerous  conversions  and  a 
g;eneral  awakening  of  the  entire  cora- 
rauuity.  The  year  following,  Kev.  T.  J. 
Bauder  came  to  labor  among  us.  Dur- 
ing his  protracted  effort  at  Monument 
there  were  quite  a  nunil)er  converted. 
Eev.  A.  Musselman,  who  then  lived  in 
the  city,  and  who  had  been  looking 
about  for  a  location  for  the  Church, 
secured  a  place  the  jetxv  preceding  the 
arrival  of  Bro.  Bauder  to  hold  a  pro- 
tracted meeting.  Ivov.  J.  L.  Field  and 
the  writer  were  consequent!}'  invited, 
and  held  services  in  the  Calvary  Bap- 
tist Church.  In  the  language  of  Bro. 
F.  we  but  add,  "this  was  the  entering 
wedge  into  the  city."  Bro.  Musselman 
continued  to  preach  as  opportunity  of- 
fered, and  man}'  became  attached  to  us 
und  to  the  manner  in  which  our  minis- 
ters dealt  out  the  God  given  treasures 
of  divine  truth.  Bro.  M.  soon  made 
arrangements  by  the  help  of  the  breth- 
ren at  Monument,  and  purchased  the 
First  Baptist  Church  property,  situated 
!)etvveen  K  and  L  streets,  on  Fourth. 
We  came  in  possession  of  the  property 
in   October,   1877.     The  Board   of  Mis- 


sions contemplated  the  city  mission  for 
Bvo.  Eauder.  But  this  brother  came  to 
the  Conference  by  transfer,  and  became 
the  property  of  the  Conference,  and 
was  employed  by  them  as  they  thought 
best.  They  honored  him  with  the  posi- 
tion of  Presiding  Elder.  This,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  prevented  the  Station- 
ing Committee  fronx  employing  him  in 
the  cit}',  as  the  city  work  required  the 
whole  time  of  the  missionar}-.  But  we 
go  back. 

The  Conference  of  187G  was  held  in 
Kohnerville,  Humboldt  County;  Bishop 
Glossbrenner  presided.  Some  of  the 
preachers  traveled  one  thousand  miles 
to  reach  the  place  and  return  home. 
Bro.  Field  and  J.  W.  Harrow  went  on 
horseback  over  the  Coast  Kange  Moun- 
tains at  the  time,  a  distance  of  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  miles. 

The  Bishop  took  occasion  to  again 
correct  the  error  that  has  been  go- 
ing the  rounds  that  this  Church  is  a 
branch  of  the  iMethodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  also  that  we  are  opposed 
to  temperance  because  we  hold  to  the 
Gospel  plan  of  saving  men,  and  do  not 
allow  our  members  to  lock  themselves 
up  in  an  upper  room  with  sentinels  at 
the  door  to  carry  on  a  cause  that  is 
open  unto  all  men.  There  were  but 
few  changes  made  at  this  Conference' 
besides  those  already  indicated. 

The  next  Conference  convened  at  Bur- 
neyville,  September  10th,  1877,  Bishoj)  N. 
Castle,  presiding.  This  Conference  par- 
took largely  of  the  devotional  character, 
and  resulted  in  awakening  the  people, 
and  especially  the  Church.  Kev.  D. 
Shuck  came  among  us  at  this  time, 
which  gave  us  in  connection  with  the 
traveling  preachers  then  liere  quite  a 
band  of  workers.  Bro.  Burtner  en- 
tered Eureka  City  on  the  Humboldt 
Baj'  during  the  last  year  of  his  labors  in 


48 


History  of  (/,e  Vnihd  Breilmn  in  Cloisl  ir>  Cah'fornif 


the  county.  The  city  work  has  since 
been  considered  of  such  importance  as 
to  become  a  mission  station.  Bro.  John 
McBride  went  to  P^eather  River  Mission, 
and  Bro.  M.  Morris,  and  afterward  Bro. 
C.  W.  Gillett,  had  charge  of  Clear  Lake 
Mission.  Bro.  Bauder  took  Yolo  Cir- 
cuit into  charge  as  a  supplj^  until  the 
mission  on  which  he  was  stationed  would 
open  more  fully.  The  writer  was  on 
the  Paradise  Circuit,  J.  W.  Harrow  on 
the  Tulare  work,  and  Bro.  Field  Presid- 
ing Elder,  Large  appropriations  were 
laade  for  tlie  ensuing  year,  and  the  mis- 
sion fields  v(;ry  much  encouraged.  We 
tried  the  plan  of  giving  the  Piesiding 
Elders  a  circuit  or  missio)i,  and  a  small 
tlistrict,  but  found  that  t}ie  people  were 
dissatisfied,  and  two  of  the  Elders  nu>r- 
tified  with  the  out(;omc.  Jt  is  j)laii>  that 
if  the  Elder  leaves  his  own  work  to 
i^upply  another  without  having  his  })ulpit 
occupied,  he  will  not  find  his  lloek  satis- 
fied ;  but  to  mutual!}^  exchange  with  the 
preacher  whose  Quarterly  Confereiu-e  he 
is  going  to  hold,  will  general  prove  satis- 
factory. AVe  will  learn  to  work  to  a 
greater  advanlage  after  a  while.  IJishop 
Castle  came  among  us  to  reinaiii  durino- 
the  cpiadrennial  term.  His  coming  was 
indeed  a  blessing  to  us  at  the  time.  He 
is  a  tried  man,  and  is  able  to  serve  the 
Church  in  any  capacity  to  which  they 
may  call  him.  He  is  the  best  logician 
we  ever  heard,  and  in  lingual  ilow  is 
certainly  an  adopt.  One  hears  the  calm 
zephyr  playing  with  the  leaflets,  or  the 
rolling  wave  in  a  calm  wind  near  the  sea- 
shore, or  th(i  boom  of  the  breaker  in  a 
a  stoini.  Or  one  can  hear  the  breaking 
of  the  rocks,  or  feel  the  sensation  of 
aerial  motion,  as  he  sends  his  voice  into 
the  foliage,  or  speaks  of  the  ship  of  faith 
in  a  storm  of  oj)position,  or  describees  the 
wasting  mountain  of  stone,  or  follows  him 
as  lie  soars  toward  some  etluM-eal  ol)ject 


in  the  impenetrable  lu'ight.  He  trjlv 
stands  in  the  ]>ath  tnxlden  bv  l)v.  Ed- 
wards, and  liowever  jxTsoual  thr^se  sav- 
ings may  seem,  they  aie  nevertheless 
fully  matured  and  leadilv  apply  as  ap- 
l^licd.  i,uk(\  the  historian,  gives  us 
many  incidents  in  which  tlu^  workers  as 
well  as  their  work  is  brought  to  view. 
The  ''JJeloved  Paul  and  liiirnabas''  w<'re 
the  men  who  had  •' hn/.,ird('d  their  lives 
for  the  Lord  .fesus." 


BTSirOP  X.   CASTLE. 

Ibit  we  p;iss  oil.  The  next  ( 'onfert^Mice- 
convened  at  Woodhridg*'.  Septend)er 
IHh,  bSrS.  Bisho])  Castle  was  with  us 
again.  Bro.  J).  Sluuk  had  Imm'U  absent, 
from  here  nine  years,  but  returned  to 
labor  again  anu)ng  the  United  Brethren 
on  the  coast.  The  session  at  Wood- 
bridge  was  largely  attendi-d,  and  was  ol 
real  worth  to  all  who  attended  it-  It 
was  held  in  th(>  new  l)rick  church,  built 
during  tlie  pastoiate  of  Bro.  J"'ield,  and 
is  the  neatest  church  in  the  Conference. 
Woodbridge  is  quite  an  enterprising- 
place.  There  are  between  four  and  fiviv 
hundicd  inhabitants  in  the  vilhioe.   They 


Historu  of  tite  United  BrcUa'cn  in  Chrisf  in  California. 


49 


liave  a  beautiful  seminary  with  a  flourish- 
ing- school  now  in  progress,  Avith  Prof. 
D.  A.  Moble}^,  a  g-raJuate  of  Hartsville 
University,  Indiana,  also  of  Union  Bibli- 
cal Seminary  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  as  teacher. 
They  also  have  an  excellent  piimary 
school  and  a  Higli  school  department, 
'i'here  are  four  church  oroani/ations  in 
tlie  ])lace,  viz  :  The  United  Bretlu-en  in 
Christ,  the  Presbyterian,  the  M.  K. 
Church  (south),  and  the  Catholic.  These 
have  two  edifices:  The  United  Brethren 
brick  church,  and  the  Catholic  church. 
The  otheis  worship  in  a  hall.  Tiiey  have 
{)reachers  and  doctors  and  drugoists ; 
capitalists  and  l)rokers ;  teleora])h  and 
post  office  ;  \yells,  Fargo  express  ;  regu- 
lar stage  lino  Avilh  daily  mail  ;  dress- 
makers, American  and  Chinese  laundries; 
bai'ber  shop,  meat  market,  carpenter 
shop,  wagon  and  buggy  shop,  paint  shop, 
blacksmith  shop,  harness,  and  boot  and 
slioe  shops,  hardware  and  tin  store ;  a 
large  jewelry  establishment,  a  drug  store, 
two  large  dry  good  stores,  livery,  hotel, 
and  private  boarding  places,  etc.,  etc. 
The  etcs.  embrace  several  licensed  nui- 
sances that  could  not  live  six  months  if 
some  citizens  of  the  place  and  surround- 
ing community  did  iu:>t  patronize  them. 
The  Conference  apjjointed  a  committee 
of  three  to  prospect  with  the  view  of 
establishing  an  institution  of  learning 
for  the  Church  in  California.  Ovw  peo- 
ple  everywhere  are  encouraging  cduca- 
tiou.  Thej^  are  erecting  schools  of 
learning  in  all  quarters  of  our  Zion. 
California  Conference  should  not  be 
behind  in  these  things.  The  reports  on 
education  for  the  last  twenty  years 
ought  to  culminate  in  something  more 
than  reiteration.  ThejMvill ;  they  must. 
And  if  they  do  not  now^,  the  potential 
is  certainly  hidden  in  the  low  clouds  of 
the  indicative.  AVe  expect  our  people 
to  take  such  an  interest  with  the  com- 


mittee in  the  school  question  as  will  put 
the  success  of  the  enterprise  beyond  all 
doubt  of  success.  The  work  during  the 
year  had  made  some  progress.  Several 
new  classes  had  been  added  to  the 
Church,  The  Chinese  question  was 
agitated  strongly.  AYe  have  no  desire 
to  commit  the  Church  in  her  views  upon 
this  matter,  and  will  therefore  not  pre- 
sume to  say  what  they  are  in  the  spe- 
cific sense,  but  the  subject  of  the  edu- 
cation and  Christianization  of  the  Chi- 
nese claimed  our  attention  at  the  time- 
Several  of  the  speakers  took  occasions 
to  refer  to  the  popular  ideas  in  this. 
State  concerning  the  disposal  of  the 
Asiatics  among  us,  but  did  not  propose 
an}'  plan  upon  which  to  secure  the 
equipose  of  the  disturbed  state  of  affairs 
existing  among  those  who  tried  to  es- 
tablish the  sentiment  of  the  ancients, 
viz:  l^o.c  popul!^  vo.v  Dei — "The  voice 
of  the  people  is  the  voice  of  God,"  as 
contrasted  with  those  who  are  subject 
to  the  laws  that  be,  and  who  instead  of 
submitting  the  matter  to  State  legisla- 
tion wish  to  submit  it  to  the  Federal 
Government.  In  an  article  that  we 
contemplate  jniblishing  in  pamphlet 
form,  we  have  written  at  large  ui^on 
this  question,  viewing  it  from  every 
side,  and  placing  the  Chinese  in  this 
country  Avhere  in  the  providence  of 
God  they  are  serving  a  purpose  and 
occup3'ing  a  j)lace  within  the  "bounds 
of  their  habitation."  The  Conference 
report  urged  the  speedy  evangelization 
of  the  Chinese  in  America. 

Indulge  us  while  we  give  you  our 
experience  laboring  among  the  Chinese 
in  Sacramento  in  1877-8.  We  occupied 
the  Fourth  street  church,  which  has 
since  been  moved  to  Fourteenth  and  K 
streets.  After  studying  their  peculiar- 
ities several  months  and  getting  a  nioda.-< 
operandi,  we  ventured  to  form  a  mission 


50 


Historij  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  Col.ijornia. 


school  I'or  Chinamen.  We  formetl  the  :ic- 
quaiuLance  of  quite  a  number  of  them, 
and  among  thou  was  one  Wah  Lee,  an 
intelligent  fellow.  Wc  had  him  write  a 
notice  lor  us  in  the  language  of  his 
counLrj'^men,  so  that  seeing  they  might 
understand.     He  is  a  translation  of  it: 

Chinamen  are  invited  to  come  here 
KVERY   Sunday,    where    an    Amekican 

MAN  WILL  TEACH  THEM  TO  READ  AMERI- 
CAN— TO    READ     IN      THE     BlRLE.         CoME 

EVERY  Sunday  at  12  o'clock. 

The  flood  of  the  Winter  prevented 
us  from  going  on  with  the  school. 
Several  Chinamen  came  to  us  and  in- 
quired about  the  school,  and  seometl 
glad  to  have  an  opportunit}'  to  learn 
our  language.  American  people  are  too 
hasty  with  the  heathen  whom  God  has 
placed  in  their  reach;  yea,  ])u't  in  their 
midst,  and  frequently  act  so  unbecom- 
ing as  to  plainly  indicate  that  the}'  are 
far  beh>w  those  whom  they  w-ish  to 
elevate.  A'"ery  man}^  of  these  Chinese 
iiave  sensibilities  that  rise  as  high  as 
those  of  other  people.  Their  degreda- 
lion  is  often  the  result  of  the  inhuman 
abuse  that  they  receive  at  the  hands  of 
)uerciless  white  men,  who  use  liberty 
as  an  occasion  of  inherent  antipath}^ 
or  unrestrained  lust.  We  praise  Cod 
that  "justice  and  judgment  are  the 
habitation  of  his  throne."  lie  who 
said,    "Ask.   and   I   will   give    thee    the 


heathen  foi*  thine  inheritance,  and  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy 
possession,"  will  bring  it  to  pass,  even 
as  he  has  written. 

Let  it  be  remarked,  that  the  Califor- 
nia Conference  favor  the  speedy  Chris- 
tianization  of  the  Chinese  in  their 
midst,  and  as  will  be  seen  in  the  re- 
port unanimously  adopted  at  the  last 
Conference  session,  that  they  are 
now  taking  steps  to  commence  the 
work.  Men  may  scoff  and  frown,  and 
cast  their  vile  epithets  at  us  if  they 
will,  but  he  who  allowed  the  "  woman 
that  was  a  sinner"  to  kneel  at  His  feet, 
and  bathe  them  with  her  tears,  will  not 
frown.  The  day  is  coming  when  some 
who  are  now  proud  of  their  antipathy 
towards  the  Asiatic  race,  would  be  glad 
to  pick  the  crumbs  from  the  table  that 
God  has  prepared  for  the  poor  creatures 
in  the  presence  ot  their  enemies.  The 
time  is  also  certainly  approaching  when 
those  wdio  are  marked  as  "heathen 
fanatics,"  will  shine  in  the  galaxy  of 
the  redeemed  of  (Jod,  while  the  proutl, 
and  haughty  and  sncei'ors,  "under  whoso 
tongue  is  the  j^oison  of  asps,"  will  sink 
into  the  very  gulf  of  oblivion,  or  the 
cesspool  of  irrevocable  doom.  Would 
that  a  sheet  could  be  let  down  Irom 
heaven  to  teach  some  Peter,  that  "  who- 
sover  fearcth  God  and  worketh  right- 
eousness, is  accepted  of  him." 


CIIAl'TJ-:!!.    X. 

|)i:\'.  1).  1).  HART  joined  our  ranks  at 
th(3  Cunference  in  September,  1878, 
and  was  immediately  sent  to  the  Sacra- 
mento City  work,  where  his  lalxMS  have 
been  franght  with  good.  H'  the  reader 
will  now  l)riclly  review  (Ik;  work  from 
flic  beginning,  taking  notice  of  the  rise 
and  decline  of  tin;  work,  which  like  the 
waxing  and    waning   luster  of  the    moon. 


has  exli!i)iU'il  its  cvciV  phase,  he  will 
be  able  to  see  tin;  great  work  that  has 
been  done  in  the  last  few  years. 

But  before  we  give  facts  in  figures, 
let  us  glance  at  the  last  Annual  Confer- 
ence, held  at  Up[)er  Lake,  Lake  County, 
California.  Bishop  N.  Castle  presiding. 
It  commenced  on  the  *i7th  of  August, 
18i!>,  and  continued  four  ilays.  All  of 
the  itineiants  exci'pt   one,  was  present  ab 


Ulslovii  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in   California. 


51 


tilt  hist  session;  and  hvit  lew  of  the  k>oal 
|»rHachers  wtMO  ahsent.  All  of  the  fielc's 
of  labor  were  well  represented.  Tlie 
l)'.i>iness  transactions  indicated  some  fore- 
tli<nii>-lit,  and  we  arc  ({uite  sure,  created 
soiii"  afh^rtlioiig'ht;  l>>it  whatever  conchi- 
>ii  >ns  niav  ha\'i'  been  forne'd  concerning- 
tin-  "  plans.'"  one  thing  is  cpiite  plain ;  i.e., 
thiiiii'>  dill  not  go  as  expocte<l.  Now 
tlii-  is  just  as  it  should  l)t>,  whi'ii  the  ex- 
]>e>,'.  ations  are  premature.  'V\w  wise 
man  said,  "  A  man's  liesrt  deviseth  his 
wav.  hut  the  Lord  direeteth  his  steps." 
Tilt'  following-  reports  should  have  a 
place  in  the  history,  inasmuch  as  tl\ey 
show  what  has  Ixmmi  don(%  and  what  now 
•exi-ts   as  a   basis   for  future  calculations  : 

KKJ'our  ON    v;i)n  A  ih)X. 

^VnKKKAS,  The  edneation  of  the  youth 
is  no  longer  a  matter  of  contention,  and 
their  culture  and  traiinng  is  one  of  the 
indispensable  requisites  that  accompany 
the  successful  uhmi  and  women  of  this 
century;  and, 

WuKUK.vs,  ()ur  youth  are  born  i'l  a 
hind  where^art  has  paved  the  stadium 
ill  which  they  are  to  run  the  race  of 
indiistry  and  frugality,  and  where  sci- 
ence has  engraved  her  latest  and  most 
accurae  developments  upoti  tlie  broad 
scroll  that  arches  over  them,  while  the 
literary  storehouse  of  the  treasured 
deposits  of  centuries  is  spreading  the 
coticurrent  events  of  every  ag-e,  and 
more  fully  of  tins  golden  day — a  day 
replete  with  the  lich  and  hnished  cul- 
ture of  true  giMHus  Mud  of  profound 
scholarship — and, 

Wi'.PMJKAS,  An  early  choi<-i'  of  sonu; 
useful  and  profitable  avocation  of  life 
should  be  made,  and  inasmuch  as  the 
candidates  for  the  great  theater  of  life 
in  which  the}^  are  to  bear  some  humble 
part,  are  to  qualify  themselves  in  that 
<lej>artmeiit  of  the  scientific  and  literary 


riirrlcuJimii  of  studies  best  adapted  to 
their  s])here;   ther(dV)re, 

JiMolrcd.,  That  this  Conferenee  i-n- 
eourag-e  every  favorable  step  in  the  direc- 
tion of  placing-  the  proper  facilities  for 
the  trainiiiii-  of  th(»  young-  within  their 
reach,  and  aid  them  to  the  extent  ot 
their  ability  to  riM-eive  the  advantages  of 
an  education. 

liesolved.,  Second — That  we  encourage 
the  schools  that  are  in  our  midst,  and 
especially  those  of  our  own  or  under  our 
auspices,  and  in  such  coniiiiunities  as 
are  accessible  to  our  people. 

Ix€i<oJri'<I,  'J'hird — That  we  heartily 
enter  into  the  school  enterprise  ])rojected 
by  the  committee  appointetl  at  the  last 
session  of  this  Conference  to  prospect 
witli  the  view  ol  estai)lisliing-  a  school 
in  the  Conference,  and  do  hereby  urge 
u|)on  the  Conference  at  large,  to  take 
hold  upon  and  helj*  to  sustain  Wood- 
bridge  Seminary  upon  the  plan  suggested 
in*  the  report  of  the  committee.  We 
also  recommen<l  that  the  Conference 
appoint  a  Bt>ard  of  Trustees  consisting 
of  nine  to  take  and  fill  the  place  as  set 
forth  in  th(^  articles  of  agreement  en- 
tered into  by  the  committee  and  the 
Trustees  of  the  seminary. 

KKI'OUT    ON    I'ACIFIC   TEI.KSCOJ'H. 

We,  your  Com  nittee  on  Pacific  Telk- 
scoi'K,  would  respectfully  submit  the  fol- 
lowing r(!port : 

We  feel  that  the  Pacific  TiiJ.KScoi'i!: 
has  done  a  good  work  among  us,  and 
r(^gret  very  much  to  have  it  discontinued, 
for  we  have  been  enabled  through  its 
telescopic  lens  to  see  nuxny  things  we 
otherwise  would  have  not  been  able  to 
see,  and  feel  that  we  shall  miss  its  friend- 
ly visits  very  much;  Init  after  careful 
investigation,  feel  that  we  could  not  suc- 
ceed financially  at  present,  at  least. 

We  therefore  recommend  that  the  item 


52 


llistovij  of  (Jte  Uii/ftd  Brdlo'en  in  Christ  in  Odifornia. 


of  the  report  on  puhlishing-  interests  re- 
ferring to  the  continuation  of  the  Pacikk" 
Tklescopp:,  be  stricken  out. 

Itesolced^  That  tlie  earnest  and  zealous 
efforts  i)ut  forth  by  the  editor,  li^w  H.  J. 
Becker,  in  sustaining  the  paper  thus  far 
are  commendable,  and  we  hope  and  pray 
he  may  feel  that  God  is  in  its  discontin- 
uance, and  hope  tlie  time  may  come  in 
the  near  future,  wlien  tiie  little  messen- 
ger may  make  its  appearance  among  vis 
again. 

cHlNKhE    .MISSION. 

Recognizing  as  we  do  thf  Fatherhood 
of  God  and  the  universal  Brotherhood 
of  man,  and  the  binding  obligation  upon 
Christians  to  obey  the  commands  of  the 
Master  to  "preach  the  Gospel  to  every 
creature,"  and  inasmuch  as  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God  thousands  of  Chinese  are 
in  our  country  who  are  strangers  and 
foreigners,  living  without  the  light  of 
the  Gospel ;  therefore, 

Jieso/red,  First — That  we  l)elieve  it  to 
be  the  duty  of  Christians  to  d(}  what 
they  can  to  bring  these  foi-eignei-s  under 
the  power  of  the  Gospel. 

Second — That  we  as  a  Cluux-h  sliould 
commence  a  mission  lunong  tljem  as 
eaily  as  practical)l<!. 

Third — That  the  Presiding  Klder  of 
Sacramento  District  and  the  preacher 
in  charge  of  Sacramento  Mission  Sta- 
tion be  a  committe(!  to  prospect  with 
a  view  of  opening  a  mission  among  the 
Chinese  here  in  connection  with  the 
Women's  Missionary  Association  of  the 
Church  of  tlu'  I'nited  Brethren  in  ( 'hrist. 

KKPoirr  ON  TiiK  iii':<'ovKuv  ok  riii!:  (iit.vvK 
OK  Kkv.  Iskakl  Sr.oAXic,  surr(tsKi)  kok 

MAXY   VKAIIS    TO   llAVK   ItKKN    I.OSI'. 

Kev.  J.  L.  Field  and  Rev.  J.  Ackerson 
recently  made  search  and  discovered  the 
grave  ol  the  deceased,  but  dearly  beloved 
brother,    Rev.    Israel    Sloane.        lirother 


Sloane  came  to  California  in  1858,  and 
organized  the  first  class  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Cinist  in  this  State  on  the 
tenth  of  December  in  the  same  year.  His 
labors  were  fraught  with  good  in  the 
valley  of  the  Sacramentd  until  18(')3, 
when  he  was  ai)pointed  to  Humboldt 
County,  where  he  also  labored  with  great 
success.  In  .July  of  the  same  year  he 
started  to  Sacramento  Valley  to  look 
after  the  interests  of  the  work  auumg  the 
people,  but  was  thrown  from  a  horse  at 
the  foot  of  Cache  Creek  Mountain,  and 
received  injuries  that  finally  ]>roved  fatal. 
He  reached  Eureka  City  very  much  af- 
flicted on  the  thirtieth  of  August,  an<l 
sent  for  his  wife,  who  reached  him  in 
time  to  see  him  die  and  hear  his  dying 
words,  which  were  strong  appeals  for  the 
success  of  th(>  ('hurch  in  California.  His- 
life  and  labors  have  endeared  him  to  the 
whole  Church,  but  more  especially  to  the 
people  of  (yalifoinia.  We  cherish  the 
memory  of  so  good  and  St)  great  a  man. 
Our  memories  linger  about  his  footstejis 
with  sacred  fondness. 

Your  committee  recommends  that  a. 
special  committee  of  one  from  each  Pre- 
siding Elder  district  In;  appointed  to  con- 
fer with  the  near  relatives  of  the  de- 
ceased brother  with  reference  to  exhum- 
ing the  body  and  conveyini>-  it  to  some 
desirable  place  for  permanent  burial,  and 
foi-  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  monument 
to  his  menioiy.  IT.  .T.  BkiKKK, 

( 'ommittee. 

i;i:i'oi:r  <>i"    riii:   si.\  ii<ini'n<;   <<>.VMrrjKK. 

Humbt)ldt  District. — H.  J.  Becker, 
P.  E.  Humboldt  Circuit,  .1.  L.  Field; 
Mendocino  Mission,  to  be  supplied; 
Eureka  Mission  Station,  H.  J.  Becker. 

Sacramento  District. — D.  Shuck,  P.  E. 
Sacramento  Mission  Station,  D.  D.  Hart ; 
Yolo  Circuit,  J.  J,  Gallager,  by  J'.  E.; 
assistant,  R.  Metcalf;  Feather  River  Cir- 


Uistori/  of  I  lie   United  Brfthren  la   Chri'<t  in   Gxlifonri 


la. 


53 


cuit,  C.  W.  Gillett;  Clear  Lake  Circuit, 
J.  B.  Hamilton  ;  Wooill)ri(l£re  Circuit,  G. 
W.  Burtner  ;  Star  isiaus  Circuit,  J,  Mc- 
Bride ;  Calaveras  Mission,  E.  Devvitt ; 
Morgan  Valley  Mission,  J.  W.  Bell. 

Tulare  District.— T.  J.  Bauder,  P.  E. 
Visalia  Mission,  C.  F.  Lane ;  Madaria 
Mission,  .J.  W.  Harrow  ;  Tulare  Mission, 
T.  J.  Bauder. 

JJEPORT    ox    FINANTK. 


FIELDS 

OP 

LAB  <  >  R  . 


S      2. 


Hl'MKOI.llT    I>rSTR10T  I  i 

Humholclt  Circuit..^  Mi  $20  $4o'  JId  |  $1  $.i 
Eureka  Mission  St.;  40  Id'  20;  2  )  1  |  2 
Mendocino  Mission      40i       b ' ; | 

SACRAMKNTO  DIST.   '  ! 

Pacrain'to  Mis.  St.      fiOj     2ti 

Yolo  Circuit  100 

Clear  Lake  Circuit.!     40 
Feather  River  Cir..;     50J     15 
VVoodbridge  Cir \     80!     25 

80:     25 

40 

32 


Stanislaus  Circuit., 
Calaveras  Mission.. 
Morgan  Valley  Mis 

TULARE   DISTRICT. 

Tulare  Mission 

Visalia  Mission 

Madaria  Mi.ssion... 


25  2 ; 

25   60  2} 

10   20  1 

aO  2 

50  2 

50  2  i 

Ui   5  1 


50, 
50| 
40 


5   10 
5   lOi 

2i   5 


$300 


400 


50 

100 
100 
100 


These  reports  show  a  grtjat  and  good 
work.     The    (/hinese     Mis.sion     will     no 
doubt  be  a  success.     The  report  on  the 
contemplated  monument  to  the  memory 
of   Rev.  Israel   Sloane,  meets  with   uni- 
versal  ai>proval.     It  would  not  be   very 
difficult  to  secure  money  for  the  monu- 
ment,   and    at   the    same   time   endow   a 
chair  in  a  university  in  California,  to  be 
called  the  "Sloane  Chair."    If  a  man  were 
to  go  to  the  different  United  Brethren 
Conferences  in  the  United  States  and  in 
Canada,  and  make  a  general   appeal    to 
the    Church     at    large    in    this    interest, 
$■^5,000  could  be  raised  in  one  year;  the 
interest  of  which,  in  connection  with  the 
tuition,    would    defray    the    expenses    of 
the    school.        \Vhile    we    stand   first    to 
suggest  it,   there   are   many  who  would 


come  to  the  front  ranks  with   from   '^lliii 
to  $1,000  to  secure  it. 

The  report  on  the  Pacific  Tki.k>< oi'K 
was  not,  M'e  trust,  a  rash  act.  It  was 
done  at  (jui'  suggestion.  Had  we  le- 
mained  in  Sa('rameiito  "\'alley,  the  paper 
might  perhaps  hav(i  continued.  It  would 
be  better  for  Oregon,  Walla  Walla,  and 
California  Conferences,  to  pul^lish  a  paper 
at  some  convenient  point  that  would 
serve  all  of  them.  The  Pacific  Tele;- 
SCOPE  was  an  individual  enterprise  that 
succeeded  beyond  the  most  sanguine  ex- 
pectations of  the  proprietor.  It  speaks  for  ■ 
itself.  It  is  not  dead,  nor  in  a  swoon, 
nor  a  sleep  like  Rij)  Yaw  Winkle,  ta- 
wake  up  after  a  score  of  years;  but  lias 
only  stepped  to  one  side  for  a  time  to 
gather  scrolls  and  (juills,  and  at  some 
time  "in  the  near  future,"  (see  I'eport) 
rise  again,  and  wear  an  inky  crown. 

The  statistics  of  the  Conference  show 
that  the  membership  in  the  last  five  years 
has  increased  in  numbers  three  to  one. 
and  the  itinerants  ten  to  three.  All  other 
interests  have  equally  come  up.  Our  or- 
ganized works  are  now  all  supplied,  but 
there  are  places  contiguous  to  most  every 
field  we  now  occupy  that  ought  at  once 
to  be  entered  b}^  us. 

The   Conference   elected  ii   Board   of 
Trustees  for  VV^oodbi-idge  .Seminary.  ai5d 
accepted   the  report  of  the  Committee 
on   the   School  (Question.      The   school 
is  open,  and  the  work  is  going  on.     The 
work  of  educating  is  perhaps  the  most 
difficult  thing  that  can  be  undertaken, 
but    when    once    begun    will    help    to 
keep  itself  in  motion.     Professor  D.  A. 
Mobley   is   teaching   in    the   seminary, 
and  is  well  liked  by  the  students.     The 
entire    Conference  is    better  organized 
for  work   than    they  have    ever   been, 
and  great  results  are  looked  for.     The 
higher  life  is  being  largely  advocated 
by   the   preachers.       Several    of  them 


o4 


IHslorij  of  th'  Uitilfd  Brethren  i/t.  Christ  in   CaUfornia. 


have  cx[)crieneed  what  ii  is  to  he 
C-lcallSOvl  throili;"h  the  hUnxl  ol'  iho 
LiiMih.  J>ir?hoi)  ^'ji'*'-''''  l'!'"^  i^iveii  MOW 
litf  to  ihf  entire  coast,  and  especially 
t«.)  Calit'uriiia.  in  the  doctrine  of  soul 
health.  The  '•  Wondeui'ul  Sayini;-.-. '"  of 
hi>  wife  in  her  last  days  upon  earlh 
ha^  done  a  marvelous  \voi-l<  here.  Some 
try  to  read  the  tract  containing-  her 
exj)eriencc,  and  have  to  stop  and  weep. 
Others  are  mf)ved  to  confession,  and 
■Still  others  to  earnest  inquir}-  comern- 
ing  what  the}' must  do  to  be  saved.  What 
aSistor  Sloane  (deceased)  was  to  Cali- 
iornia,  Sister  Castle  was  to  Oregon. 
Their  s))irit  and  patience  are  (losely 
allied  to  each  other.  Tiieir  dying  tcs- 
liiijony  will  ever  live  to  light  up  the 
dark  vuik\y  to  those  who  are  lefl  to 
et;ter  its  sliadovvs  at  a  later  lime. 

And  now,  to  conclude,  we  have  taken 
the  reader  through  the  ••early  da\s'"  ot 
Calitorida,  and  have  led  him  among  the 
'■I'.irder  I'uffians"  in  the  mountains  and 


in  the  valley's  until  the  countrj'  and 
the  ])eople  have  become  fumiliur  to  him. 
We  have  set  forth  the  state  of  society 
and  the  endeavors  of  our  preachers  to 
win  the  people  to  Christ.  The  i^altcr 
and  manner  of  work  has  also  been  pre- 
sented, ami  the  successes  and  reverses 
have  been  noted.  Hundreds  have  gone 
IVom  this  field  who  are  now  at  rest. 
\<iry  man}'  of  our  former  members  are 
scattered  all  over  the  States  and  Terri- 
tories, while  amidst  the  repeated  disap. 
pointmeiiis,  among  the  few  classes  that 
are  now  more  permanently  established, 
we  have  a  membership  of  humble  and 
devoted  followers  of  Jesus,  numbering 
nearly  six  humired,  with  above  twenty 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  propert}'. 
Our  society  is  generally  wealthy  and 
very  liberal. 

It  is  the  united  pr;»yer  of  the  Ci.nfer 
('ne(\  that  the  eoiuing  year  may  be  the 
l)e>^t  one  in  the  hist  >r}  of  our  work  in 
this  State.      .N[av   <Joil   jrrant    it.      Amen. 


Y'oiii;.s  Tiu  i.r,  H.  J.  I5KCKER. 


THE  CHINESE  QTTESTIOK 


Bv   KEY.  H.  J.  BECKER. 


THERE  is  a  possibility  of  standing-  so  close  to  an  object  as  not  to  be  able  to 
see  it  so  well  as  when  viewed  at  a  greater  distance.  It  is  also  true  that 
one  can  stand  so  far  from  an  object  as  to  become  confused  in  his  gaze  and  be 
unable  to  furnish  even  a  true  l)ird's  eye  view  of  the  scene  presented  to  hie  vision. 
The  press  of  the  East  has  viewed  the  Chinese  question  from  too  great  a  distance 
to  catch  the  various  delineations  of  the  question  upon  their  negative  plate,  and 
hence  bring  out  a  picture  that  seems  to  us  to  be  incomplete,  while  the  enraged 
caricaturists  of  the  Pacific  coast  have  taken  too  many  "'side  images"  into  their 
"eye  glasses,"  and  hence  have  brought  out  a  picture  that  might  receive  the 
approval  of  a  wag  as  an  excellent  enigmatical  medley  or  a  phoMtasmagoria,  but 
not  a  good  picture  of  the  much  agitated  Chinese  question. 

Personal  antipathy,  also,  has  greatly  interfered  with  the  chemicals  and  with 
the  engraver's  tools  in  furnishing  such  a  view  of  the  great  question  as  should  be 
placed  befoi-e  the  people  of  the  United  States,  and  especially  before  the  law 
making  power.  One  class  view  the  matter  from  the  standpoint  of  dollars  and 
cents;  another  from  the  stand])oint  of  citizenship  ;  and  still  another  from  Jiative 
inferiority.  Others  think  that  tin;  Chinese  are  a  non-amalgamating  race  of 
people.  Then  there  are  those  who  hold  their  noses  and  say  the  eJflHmimi  of  the 
nasty  Mongolian  is  beyond  the  poirar  iff  eaduramv .  Too  bad  I  But  we  will 
compare  notes  after  a  little  and  see  about  the  mattei-.  There  is  also  trouble 
anticipated  from  an  overwhelming  immigration  to  our  shores.  In  addition  to 
this,  they  are  "heathen  ;"  they  have  secret  tribuiuds  ;  they  disregard  their  oath 
in  our  Courts ;  they  evade  punishment  justly  due  them  ;  they  traffic  in  human 
slaves ;  they  encourage  prostitution  ;  they  smoke  opium,  and  are  a  nuisance  t(.i 
the  community,  an  incumbrance  to  labor,  an  encouragement  to  capital,  a  thorn 
in  the  flesh  to  hoodlums,  and  an  endless  burden  to  those  who  are  trying  to  save 
them.     These  are  among  the  allegations  against  this  strange  people. 

That  some  of  the  "troubled  ones"  are  candid  in  tlieir  convictions  we  do  not 
in  the  least  doubt,  and  that  some  of  the  anticipated  evil  results  growing  out  of 
the  question  under  consideration  aie  about  to  visit  us,  we  shall  not  attempt  to 
deny ;  but  the  source  of  the  evil  and  the  manner  of  trying  to  avoid  it  we  do 
most  emphatically  call  into  question.  It  is  quite  evident  that  the  sad  state  of 
affairs  in  certain  quarters  is  the  result  of  our  loose  civilization  rather  than  of 
imported  corruption,  and  is  found  among  our  people  in  a  proportion  quite  in 
advance  of  the  Asiatics  among  us.  If  Congress  would  appoint  a  committee  to 
investigate  some  of  the  evils  that  are  encouraged  in  this  State,  and  that  secure 
protection  through  the  construction  placed  upon  the  common  law,  they  would 
astonish  the  world  by  their  announcements.  Why  pass  by  this  mountain  of 
chronic  iniquity,  and  all  at  once  dart  like  an  Alpine  eagle  upon  some  foreign 
creature  that  seeks  to  graze  in  our  "swamp  lands,"  and  feed  its  young  upon 
"rejected  claims?"  What  bona  fide,  charges  have  yet  been  made  against  the 
Chinese  that  could  not  be  argued  with  equal  force  against  the  immigrants  from 
several  of  the  other  nations  that  are  represented  here  V     It  is  argued  that  China 


36  THE     CHINESE     QUESTION. 


has /our  hundred  millions  of  people,  and  that  were  they  to  come  to  our  shores 
they  would  crowd  us  into  the  sea.  Who  that  has  the  faintest  idea  of  the  per- 
centage of  immigration  from  any  nation  to  ours  would  make  such  an  assertion  ? 
Why  not  take  the  case  as  it  really. is,  and  work  out  the  problem  by  the  same 
rules  that  should  be  employed  in  the  solution  of  kindred  questions?  Indulgi- 
one  more  question  in  opening  this  examination,  and  then  follow  us  patiently  for 
an  answer.  Is  the  present  state  of  society  and  the  low  condition  of  things  in 
general  as  they  now  exist  in  this  State  the  result  of  the  Chinese  that  are  here, 
or  have  they  largely  grown  out  of  the  former  high  prices  that  were  paid  as  to 
the  labor  feature  of  it,  and  out  of  the  numerous  saloons  that  hang  upon  the 
industries  of  our  people  like  parasites  to  suck  the  sap  of  our  income  as  fast  as 
it  attempts  to  reach  the  channels  of  reproduction  ;  and  out  of  the  looseness  of 
spendthrifts  and  professional  hoodlums;  and  as  to  its  social  phase,  out  of  the 
immoral  antecedents  placed  in  ftdl  view  of  the  masses  and  tolerated  by  some  of 
those  who  now  cr};-  the  loudest  against  these  things  ?  But  first  let  us  examine 
a.  few  general  propositions. 

The  necessities  of  rommerce  forbid  our  closing  the  doors  of  China  and  of  the 
United  States  against  the  extensive  exportations  and  importations  that  are  now 
mutually  carried  on  bg  and  betv:een  them. 

It  has  ever  been  a  difficult  matter  to  establish  commercial  relations  with 
nations  until  a  demand  for  their  natural  productions  was  reciprocally  estab- 
lished. To  do  this  requires  the  most  intimate  social  relaticnis  that  can  be  made 
to  exist.  Where  a  race  antipathy  exists  between  nations  their  commercial  rela- 
tions cannot  long  survive.  A  single  glance  at  our  surplus  productions  that  are 
in  demand  in  China,  and  upon  the  other  hand,  the  large  imports  from  China  to 
our  shores,  will  satisfy  any  candid  thinker  that  there  is  too  much  at  stake  to 
lose  by  interfering  with  the  ships  upon  the  high  seas  whose  ballasts  are  the 
rich  cargoes  that  feed  and  .dothe  the  needy  of  both  nations.  The  more  exten- 
sive the  immigration  becomes,  the  greater  will  the  demand  be  for  the  neces- 
saries of  life.  We  know  that  some  of  our  readers  will  revolt  at  the  very  thought 
of  an  increase  of  the  Asiatics  among  us.  But  wait,  reader,  wait;  if  we  shall 
be  able  to  hold  your  attention  a  little  while  right  here,  you  will  admit  the  truth 
of  our  statement  and  the  logic  of  our  argument,  and  rest  assured  we  will 
help  you  out  on  that  other  matter  when  we  get  to  it.  The  difficulty  we  have 
with  the  masses  is  to  get  them  to  hear  us  through  in  a  sinj'  le  department  of  this 
great  issue.  Let  us  above  all  other  things  be  reasonable.  If  the  facts  in  the 
case  are  against  us,  let  us  change  our  views.  Why  seek  to  evade  the  issue  at 
the  very  threshold  of  this  examination  V  Now  go  back,  reader;  read  this  entire 
paragraph  again,  anrl  keep  close  with  what  is  presented  for  your  consideration, 
and  we  shall  not  fear  that  your  ship  will  be  stranded  or  wrecked  in  the  breakers. 

Take  any  nation  and  shut  them  up  to  themselves,  preventing  commercial 
intercourse  with  other  nations  and  the  result  will  be  that  they  will  become  paral- 
yzed in  all  of  their  departments,  and  make  little  or  no  advancement  in  any  of 
essentials  to  a  nation's  prosperity. 

The  proofs  of  this  statement  are  numerous  u{)'>ii  the  face  of  the  history  of 
other  nations.  The  prediction  of  the  prophet  l)ani(>l  has  not  yet  lost  its  force, 
vi/, :  "Many  shall  lun  to  and  fro,  and  knowledge  shall  be  increased."  Com- 
mercial intercourse  with  the  nations  of  the  earth  is  as  necessary  to  the  j)rosperity 
and  welfare  of  the  people  as  is  the  right  of  the  elective  franchise  to  the  perpe- 
tuity and  stability  of  a  r(!pul)li(;an  form  of  government.  National  affiliation  is 
God's  plan  of  national  itineracy,  and  it  is  our  own  firm  belief  that  the  Infinite 
Dispenser  of  all  good  seeks  by  such  affiliation  to  bring  about  the  moral  and 
intellectual  equilibrium  of  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  that  America  is  the 
honored  storehouse  from  which  if  thev  "hold  fast  that  which  they  have  that  no 
man   take  their  crown,"  He  will   dispense  the  universal   blessings  of  His  grace 


THE     CHINESE     QUESTION.  67 


that  will  enable  the  kingdoms  and  nations  of  this  world  to  become  the  kingdoms 
of  His  Son  forever  and  ever.  Look  well  to  America  in  prophecy  before  you 
raise  again  your  hand  against  any  being  whom  God  has  created  and  endowed 
with  reason  and  understanding,  and  by  a  plain  Providence  placed  at  your  door 
that  you  might  give  him  a  cup  of  cold  water  in  the  name  of  a  disciple  and 
receive  a  disciple's  reward. 

Shall  we  violate  the  claims  set  forth  in  the  Burlingame  Treaty  ?  They  have 
already  in  part  been  violated,  and  China  has  a  right  to  demand  that  the  matter 
be  a<: justed  by  the  United  States.  It  is  not  the  prerogative  of  the  offending 
party  to  say  how  the  matter  shall  be  adjusted.  Kome  and  Greece  were  not 
careful  to  respect  their  treaties  with  other  nations  and  were  stigmatized  as  being 
untrue  to  then-  most  sacred  vows.  J.  Washington  Goodspeed  says :  '•'■  JSfations, 
like  individuals,  are  bound  by  certain  lav^s  tchich  gomrn  and  control  their  relation 
and  conduct  toinard  each  other.'''' 

Mr.  Goodspeed  further  says :  '••In,  this  age  a  nation  would  be  irredeetnably 
disgraced  loho  would  willfully  outrage  or  violate  a  treaty.'''' 

JBut  the  laws  regulating  the  commercial  relations  existing  between  the  United 
States  and  China  are  not  all  affected  by  the  treaty.  Chinamen  came  here 
before  the  treaty,  and  would  no  doubt  come  were  it  declared  null  'and  void. 
When  our  Congress  m  1?98  declared  that  all  treaties  between  France  and  the 
United  States  were  null  and  void,  they  did  not  bolt  the  doors  of  our  seaports 
against  ships  bringing  Frenchmen  to  America. 

The  design  of  the  Burlingame  treaty  was  not  to  open  the  channels  of  immi- 
gration but  to  protect  Chinamen  among  us  and  secure  the  pi'otection  of  the 
Chinese  Goverinnent  over  American  citizens  then  resident  in  China.  Their 
people  have  not  been  protected  here,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  further  showing  of 
this  question,  and  in  view  of  the  treatment  that  they  are  receiving  here,  we 
do  them  a  great  injustice  and  bring  upon  ourselves  the  disapproval  of  good 
men  evervwhere.  The  Eastern  press  is  not  alone  in  commenting  upon  the 
China  question,  but  men  of  both  brains  and  morals — men  recognized  among  the 
most  reputable  citizens  of  this  State — are  in  full  sympathy  with  their  Eastern 
brethren  in  condemning  the  actions  of  the  pretended  reformers  among  us.  Let 
it  be  said  I'ight  here,  that  there  will  be  visited  upon  us  the  displeasure  of  God 
if  we  do  not  act  consistently  in  this  matter.  But  we  pass  to  our  second  state- 
ment. 

The  universality  of  national  liberty  and  the  indispensable  pursuits  cf  ho  test 
industry  are  foremost  among  the  inalienable  rights  of  man.  in  all  governments 
ichose  independefice  is  recognized  and  declared. 

When  tlie  fathers  of  our  republic  were  about  to  present  the  facts  of  the 
repeated  injuries  and  usurpations  of  the  king  of  Great  Britain  to  a  candid  world, 
they  prefaced  tiieir  allegations  by  the  following  statement  :     "We  hold  these 

TRUTHS  TO  BE  SELF-EYIDEXT,  THAT  ALL  MEN  ARE  CREATED  EQUAL  ;  THAT  THEY 
ARE  ENDOWED  BY  THEIR  CREATOR  WITH  CERTAIN  INALIENABLE  RIGHTS;  THAT 
AilONG    THESE  ARE    LIFE,  LIBERTY,  AND    THE  PURSUITS  OF    HAPPINESS."       For    the 

establishment  of  this  principle  they  expended  their  money  and  hazarded  their 
lives.  The  story  of  their  patriotism  and  the  justice  of  their  claims  have  become 
the  ideal  of  statesmen  and  the  theme  of  patriotic  poets  all  over  the  civilized 
world.  Who  but  a  foreigner  would  to-day  question  the  propriety  and  reason- 
ableness of  the  statement  above  ?  Every  construction  that  can  be  placed  upon 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  of  America  by  those  who  love  our  free 
institutions  and  cherish  our  piinciples  and  our  liberties  only  tends  to  prove  that 
*'of  every  tribe  and  nation"  the  oppressed  and  down-trodden  are  protected 
and  invited  to  enjoy  with  unmolested  freedom  "life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuits  of 
happiness."  Some  of  our  national  airs,  like  the  ancients'  "sweet  lyric  songs," 
abound  with  sentiments  that  are  intended   to  recall  the  patriot's  achievementg 


THE    CHINESE     QUESTION. 


and  the  provisions  of  national  liberty  fresh  from  the  hearts  of  the  first  statesmen 
of  our  country.  Prevent  immigration  to  our  shores  from  China  except  for  com- 
mercial purposes,  and  you  at  once  set  bounds  to  liberty — a  liberty,  too,  if  anj' 
one  choose  to  call  it  liberty,  that  will  compare  well  with  the  liberty  the  Romans 
gave  the  Jews  during  the  days  of  Nero  and  Caligula — that  would  be  liberty 
environed  with  a  selfishness  of  the  grossest  kind.  And  have  you  further  con- 
sidered the  encouragement  (?)  offered  the  Chinese  Government  in  cas^e  the}-- 
accept  the  proposed  amendment  to  the  treaty  ?  The  following  is  tlie  latest  that 
has  come  t(j  our  notice  : 

"  The  I'liitod  States  do  liereby  leseis'e  tlie  ris^tit  to  iei;ulatc,  it'slrUM,,  or  prevent  the  ioiiui- 
gration  of  (;iiiMese  subjects  into  the  United  States  except  for  eonitnercial  pursuits;  and,  recipro- 
cally, the  Emperor  of  China  reserves  the  riylit  to  prevent  the  iinniiji-ration  of  citizens  of  tlic 
United  States  into  the  Empire  of  ('hina  except  for  commercial  purposes." 

Such  is  tlie  proposed  additional  article  to  the  treaty  by  Congressmen  Page 
and  Pipei'.  ''Commercial  purposes!"  Pray  tell  the  bounds  and  limits  of  com- 
mercial purposes,  and  after  you  have  cut  them  down  to  the  narrowest  limits 
possible,  then  think  for  one  moment  of  saying  to  a  free-born  American  citizen. 
We  cannot  protect  you  upon  Chinese  <.o\\  except  you  are  er.gaged  in  commercial 
pursuits  I  ( )r  think  of  the  Emperor  of  China  sending  out  a  vigilant  committee, 
headed  by  government  detectives,  to  establish  a  Chinese  inquisition  in  order  to 
ascej'tain  wliether  our  people  came  among  them  to  sustain  a  livt^lihood  by  hon- 
est industry,  the  proceeds  of  which  shall  be  their  own,  or  whether  they  intended 
to  enter  >,orne  specified  calling  that  would  not  take  coin  from  China,  except  that 
the  products  of  their  toil  could  be  exchanged  for  American  coin  or  its  equiva- 
lent. We  would  suggest  that  some  diplomat  look  up  the  Treaty  of  Santa  Fe, 
and  read  it  to  some  of  the  willing  legatees  before  they  bear  the  proposed 
"additional"'  to  the  Emperor  of  China. 

Suppose  that  Congress  succeeds  in  making  the  new  clause  a  law,  and  that 
China  ratifies  it,  and  we  proceed  accordingly,  what  will  the  end  of  it  all  be  ? 
What  will  we  gain  and  what  will  we  lose  ?  We  ask  again  what  shall  we 
answer  when  asked  why  we  allovi  immigration  from  other  nations  without 
restriction,  and  freely  employ  immigrants  who  are  as  dangerous  to  our  institu- 
tions as  are  Chinamen  ?  Let  us  take  a  case  to  illustrate.  Mr.  A  wants  to 
employ  two  men  to  work  in  his  shop  or  on  his  farm,  who  shall  he  eniplo}' :  He 
goes  to  the  labor  ofiice  and  intpiires  for  two  men,  and  immediately  two  men 
respond.  They  are  waiting  for  work — have  been  out  of  employment  for  several 
weeks,  and  will  be  glad  to  get  a  job  of  work  now.  But  the  (unployer  asks 
them  several  questions,  among  whicii  are  the  following  :  Do  you  ever  get  intox- 
icated y  Do  you  regard  the  (Jhristian  Sabbath  ?  Do  you  seek  to  promote  the 
moral,  social,  and  political  interests  of  this  State  ?  Does  youi-  money  aid  in 
building  up  our  various  institutions  of  learning  and  other  institutions  necessary 
to  a  nation's  prosperity  ?  In  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  what  would  the  answer  be  ? 
Now  let  him  employ  a  Chinaman,  and  what  do  we  hear?  To  show  the  incon- 
sistency of  some  of  their  strongest  arguments,  we  will  give  them  and  our 
answer  in  juxtapositibn  in  the  following  manner: 


THE     CHINESE     QUESTION. 


59 


AGAINST   CHINAMEN. 


First — Most  of  the  Chinamen  have  no  families 
here,  aud  can  i^et  alono-  without  takin.u'  Tvovk 
from  poor  men. 

Second — Chinamen  are  foreig'n  tra.sli,  and 
liave  no  business  here  to  eat  up  our  industries. 

Third — • 'hiuameii  work  for  less  waii,'es  than 
white  men  and  thus  underbid  them. 

Fourth — Chinameu  send  millions  of  dollars 
to  China  every  year,  and  the  State  does  not  i;-et 
the  benetit  of  any  of  their  industries. 

Fifth — If  the  Cliiuese  were  expelled  from  the 
State  there  would  be  plenty  of  work  for  the 
labrtriutc  classes. 

Sixth — They  have  secret  tribunals  and  disre- 
iiard  their  oaths  in  our  Courts. 

Seventh — They  smoke  opium  and  encouraoe 
prostitution,  and  are  a  dissjrace  to  civilization. 

Eighth — They  are  heathen — will  never  become 
citizens;  are  inferior  to  Americans;  are  tilthy, 
and  are  danijerous  to  our  piinciples  as  a  nation, 
and  unless  checked,  will  overrun  our  country, 
and  model  it  after  the  order  of  Confucius. 


AGAINST  CAUCASIAN. 


First — Most  of  the  tramp.s  and  hoodlums  have 
no  families  here,  and  can  get  alone:  without 
taking  work  from  poor  men. 

Seeond — Trampism  and  hoodlumism  is  a  for 
eign  trash— foreign  to  every  American  principle 
aud  has  no  business  here  to  eat  up  oui  industries. 

Third — White  men  demand  greater  wages 
than  ranchers  and  other  employers  can  afford 
to  pav,  and  thus  lose  the  work. 

Fourth— How  can  they  send  so  much  when 
they  work  for  so  small  a  sum'?  What  benetit 
does  the  State  derive  from  the  low,  lawless  spend- 
thrifts that  cry  the  loudest  against  Chinamen? 

Pifth — There  is  no  Chinese  underbidder  East, 
and  still  men  are  out  of  employment.  In  com- 
munities in  this  State  where  Chinamen  are  not 
allowed,  white  men  arc  out  of  employment. 

Sixth— White  men  have  secret  lodges  whose 
oaths  are  more  binding  than  those  taken  before 
civil  magistrates. 

Seventh — White  men  smoke  tobacco,  and  en- 
courage prostitution,  and  are  a  disgrace  to  civ- 
ilization. 

Eiu-hth — White  men  are  idolaters;  some  are 
vervlnferior,  and  will  never  become  respectable 
citizens.  They  are  tlltiiy  and  dangerous  to  our 
principles  as  a  nation,  and  unless  checked,  will 
overrun  our  country,  aud  model  it  after  the  order 
of  the  Pope. 


Suppose  we  were  to  continue  the  long  list  of  charges  preferred  against  (Jhina- 
men  and  justly  apply  them  to  other  classes,  what  would  the  result  be  ?  The 
doctrines  of  Confucius  are  certainly  far  in  advance  of  those  of  the  Pope — the 
infallible  dictator  of  the  world.  Jesuitism  is  the  danger  of  America  and  not 
Asiatic  heathenism.  Read  the  dark  and  bloody  deeds  of  Catholicism  and  com- 
pare them  with  Chinese  barbarity,  and  you  have  before  you  what  has  been  and 
what  would  be  again  were  the  Jesuits  to  get  hold  of  the  reins  of  government. 
Hon.  Edwin  R.  Meade  refers  to  the  massacre  that  occurred  at  Tien-tsin,  China, 
June  31st,  1870.  AVe  admit  that  was  a  horrible  affair,  but  will  you  take  a  look 
at  Dr.  Fox's  book  of  martyrs  '•*  Have  you  lead  of  the  Inquisition  of  Spain  ? 
That  institution  of  human  cruelty  was  in  existence  many  years,  and  was  not 
disbanded  and  destroyed  until  1846.  Papal  arrogance  needs  what  Bismarck 
gave  it  in  Germany  in  1874.     It  needs  to  be  checked  at  once. 

But  let  us  continue  the  argument.  Compare  the  religion  of  the  Chinese 
with  the  religion  of  organized  secrecy,  and  what  is  the  sequel  'i  Stop  a  moment, 
reader,  don't  turn  your  head  away  from  me  now.  You  who  have  entered  the 
Masonic  lodge,  please  compare  the  religion  of  the  lodge  with  the  religion  of 
Confucius,  and  publish  your  verdict.  You  very  well  know  of  that  awful  oath 
you  took.  Turn  again  to  the  first  degree  and  read  or  have  it  read  to  you  the 
horrible  oath  administered  to  you  in  tliat  upper  room,  then  continue  your  inves- 
gation  as  far  as  you  may  have  ascended  (?)  and  see  with  what  heathen  boldness 
the  infamous  institution  binds  you  to  its  heathen  rights  and  ceremonies.  Is  it 
not  a  matter  of  utter  astonishment  to  you,  intelligent  reader,  that  men  in  this 
State  who  have  taken  the  oath  of  the  third  degree  of  Masomy,  should  cry, 
"Heathen  !  heathen  !"  when  their  own  lips  have  just  sealed  the  testimony  of  a 
heathenism  of  the  darkest  kind  ?  It  has  been  said  that  the  Chinese  have  secret 
tribunals,  and  often  punish  the  offender  according  to  their  own  law,  and  that 
they  also  protect  their  members  from  being  punished  by  the  civil  Courts.  Who 
that  has  the  faintest  idea  of  Masonic  secret  tribunals  and  Masonic  Drotection  in 
the  higher  degrees,  but  knows  that  there  is  a  resemblance  in  the  two  that 
should  lead  the  one  to  seek  the  other  as  an  affinity?  Shall  we  enumerate  ? 
We  forbear  unless  proofs  are  demanded. 


60  THE     CHINESE     QUESTION. 


It  is  also  argued  that  Chinamen  are  no  help  to  our  State.  That  they  live 
cheap ;  dress  cheap ;  are  cheap,  and  hence  can  aiford  to  work  cheaper  than  a 
white  man.  Are  men  ignorant  or  willfully  dull  and  obstinate  'i  Is  the  Central 
Pacific  Railroad  no  benefit  to  the  State  ?  [Kearney  sa3's  not.]  Are  the  reclaimed 
swamp  lands  of  no  value  to  the  State  V  Is  the  revenue  of  the  extensive  indus- 
tries of  the  Chinese  in  this  State  no  benefit  to  it?  The  employment  of  China- 
men on  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad  was  certainly  a  necessity,  and  was  at  the 
time  thought  to  be  worthy  of  praise.  But  the  road  is  finished  now,  and  the 
swamp  lands  are  nearly  all  ditched  and  leveed,  and  of  course — aye — '^the  Chi- 
nese must  go."  Take  the  statement  of  Rev.  O.  Gibson  made  six  years  ago  in 
a  lecture  given  at  Platfs  Hall,  San  Francisco,  and  you  will  see  that  enormous 
sums  of  money  go  into  our  treasuries  from  the  (Jhinese  industries  in  this  State. 
The  lecture  was  in  reply  to  Father  Buchard  on  "Chinaman  or  White  Alan — 
Which?"     On  the  taxation  question,  Mr.  Gibson  said: 

"It  is  charged  that  the  Chinese  do  not  pay  taxes;  that  they  come  here  only 
to  make  money ;  that  the  ten  thousand  Chinese  in  this  city  do  not  altogether 
pay  so  much  in  taxes  as  does  the  one  man,  Michael  Reese. 

"Unfortunatel}'^  for  the  strength  of  this  argument  against  the  <Jhinese,  there 
are  more  than  fifty  thousand  white  people  in  this  city  who  pay  no  taxes  at  all 

*  *  *  Let  us  see  :  they  pa}'  nine  thousand  dollars'  taxes  on  real  estate  and 
personal  property  ?  But  every  Chinaman  pays  his  two  dollars  poll  tax — many  of 
them  two  and  three  times  the  same  year.  This  will  add  about  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars to  Father  Buchard's  nine  thousand  dollars,  making  nineteen  thousand  dol- 
lars. [Father  B.  had  made  the  statement  that  the  eleven  thousand  Chinese  in 
the  city  only  paid  nine  thousand  dollars  annually  into  the  treasury.]  To  this 
add  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  for  licenses,  and  instead  of  nine  thousand  dol- 
lars, we  have  the  round  sum  of  forty-four  thousand  dollars'  annual  revenue  to 
our  City  Treasury  from  the  Chinese  among  us.  Besides  this,  the  Chinese  of 
this  city  alone  pay  internal  revenue  license  five  thousand  dollars  a  year,  and 
stamp  tax  on  cigars  made  during  the  last  year,  the  enormous  sum  of  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  thousand  dollars,  or  over  one  thousand  dollars  each  working  day. 
The  grand  total  of  public  revenue  from  the  Chinese  of  this  city  alone  during 
the  past  year  reache<l  the  magnificent  sum  of  four  hundred  and  nine  thousand 
dollars — just  four  hundred  thousand  dodars  more  than  Father  Buchard  gave 
them  credit  for.  A  part  of  this  money  is  paid  for  the  Public  School  Fund,  but 
no  schools  are  provided  for  the  Chinese.  Again,  for  the  last  twenty  years  a 
tax  of  five  dollars  has  been  collected  from  every  Chinanuin  landing  in  this 
country — a  part  ol  the  time,  indeed,  the  tax  was  fifty  dollars  a  man.  Hundreds 
of  thousands  of  dollars  have  been  collected  IVom  the  Chinamen  under  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Foreign  Miners'  Tax  Law,  four  dollars  a  month  for  every  miner, 
which  tax  was  seldom  ever  collected  from  any  others  than  Chinese.  There  is 
this  also  to  be  said:  Collector  Austin  himself  informed  me  that  there  is  less 
difficulty  in  collecting  taxes  from  the  Chinese  than  from  any  other  class  of 
inhabitants,  and  less  delinquencies  among  them." 

Mr.  Gibson  then  !-howed  that  tliey  pay  duties  on  rice  alone  over  one  million 
dollars  gold  coin  uninially,  and  duty  on  oil  and  opium  two  hundied  and  seventy 
thousand  dollars  more  ;  and  the  duties  on  other  imports  swell  the  figures  to  over 
two  million  dollars  customs  collected  annually  in  the  port  of  San  Francisco  on  the 
trade  from  China  and  mostly  from  (Miinameri.  He  then  says,  "add  all  of  this 
revenue  together,  and  wc  have  two  mdlions  four  hundred  and  nine  thousand 
dollars,  including  taxes,  licenses,  and  customs."  He  then  adds,  '*the  Chinese 
also  patronize  our  insurance  companies,  paying  to  the  several  companies 
doing  business  in  this  city  ever  fifty  thousand  dollars  annually  for  insurance. 

*  *  *  They  wear  garments  made  of  our  cloth  ;  they  wear  our  boots  and 
our  hats  ;  they  are  fond  of  watches  and  jewelry  and  sewing  machines  ;  they 


THE     CHINESE     QUESTION.  61 


ride  in  our  cars  and  steamers  ;  they  eat  our  fish  and  beef  and  potatoes,  and 
exhaust  our  pork  market.  Take  the  one  item  of  pork  alone,  and  the  China 
men  of  this  coast  pay  to  our  producers  on  this  coast  over  half  a  million 
dollars  annuallj'."  It  is  not  necessary  to  continue  the  figures  ;  they  are 
known,  but  scarcely  ever  referred  lo  by  the  enemies  of  the  Chinese. 

Oar  liberties  are  extended  to  the  representatives  of  other  nations,  whj' 
not  to  Chinamen  ?  Does  any  one  answer  that  they  will  not  become  Ameri- 
can citizens,  then  we  say  that  if  they  are  what  they  are  represented  to  be 
those  who  bave  so  much  to  say  on  this  matter  would  oppose  their  becoming 
citizens  ;  and  if  their  citizenship  is  desired,  why  not  open  to  them  our 
schools  and  make  an  effort  to  teach  them  something  of  our  government  that 
will  enable  them  to  feel  that  they  will  be  protected  if  they  renounce  their 
allegiance  to  China,  and  become  citizens  of  the  United  States  ?  If  any  such 
effort  has  ever  been  put  forth,  will  some  one  please  tell  us  when  and 
where  it  was  ?  About  the  first  lesson  that  a  Chinaman  gets  v^hen  coming  to 
this  country  is  that  he  is  not  wanted.  A  lot  of  hoodlums  gather  at  the 
wharf  and  howl  at  him  until  he  is  made  to  think  oi'  an  "invasion  from  the 
North,"  and  soon  begins  to  realize  that  he  must  serve  as  a  football  to  Ameri- 
cans until  he  can  earn  money  enough  to  go  back  to  China  to  get  away  from 
the  "heathen  in  this  island."  The  Journal  of  (JonimerceBiiy^  that  since  1852 
90,089  Chinese  departed  from  the  port  of  San  Francisco.  It  is  hard  tor  them 
to  endure  the  inhuman  abuses  they  get  at  the  hands  of  white  men.  Their 
buildings  are  often  burned  to  the  ground  ;  their  property  totally  destroyed, 
and  they  murdered  on  the  spot.  Notices  are  put  up  that  if  any  white 
man  emploj'^s  them  they  will  burn  his  buildings — and  have  done  so. 
They  have  been  driven  out  of  their  quiet  homes  and  shot  down 
like  so  many  dogs.  They  are  fined  and  imprisoned  for  the  most  trivial 
offenses.  Poor  creatures  !  When  the  writer  lived  in  Sacramento,  one  of 
these  poor,  helpless  beings  came  to  the  door  ior  something  to  eat.  He  was 
nearly  starved.  In  his  haggard  look  could  be  seen  how  he  had  suffered. 
Boys  threw  stones  at  him  in  our  absence,  and  in  a  few  days  the  city  papers 
stated  that  the  boj's  had  thrown  clods  and  stones  at  a  Chinaman  out  in  the 
suburbs  of  the  city,  and  that  they  found  the  Chinaman  dead  out  there,  and 
guessed  that  he  must  have  died  of  heart  disease  or  something  else.  We 
never  saw  the  old  man  again,  and  are  led  to  think  it  was  the  poor  old  help- 
less creature  who  looked  so  glad  to  get  something  to  eat  at  our  gate.  Oh  ! 
may  God  forgive,  and  may  our  Christian  land  soon  become  the  home  of  the 
down  trodden  in  a  fuller  sense  than  now. 

It  is  not  often  that  they  are  found  begging  ;  no,  they  are  willing  to  work 
for  any  amount  sooner  than  to  lay  idle.  What  is  said  of  cheap  Chinese  labor 
is  generally  said  in  comparison  with  the  high  prices  formerly  paid  for  labor 
in  this  State.  Chinese  insist  on  the  highest  prices  ibr  work  that  can  be  paid, 
but  sooner  than  not  to  get  employment,  will  work  for  less.  White  men  get 
together  in  a  mass  meeting,  and  set  their  price  on  work,  and  "  would  sooner 
starve  than  take  a  cent  less  than  the  wages  agreed  upon  by  the  '  Labor 
Union.'  "  Employers  must  have  men,  and  of  course  John  must  have  work, 
and  they  are  employed.  Then  the  battle  commences  ;  a  mass  meeting  is 
called — and  we  are  sorry  to  say  that  some  people  from  whom  we  had  expected 
belfter  things,  turn  out,  and  even  ministers  of  the  Gospel  fall  into  line  and 
help  to  swell  the  I'anks  of  the  "reformers" — and  cheap  labor  is  denounced, 
and  the  employer  hung  in  effigy.  [Dr.  Hugh  Glenn,  the  Democratic  standard 
bearer  for  Governor  of  California  excepted.]  There  are  some  honorable 
exceptions  we  are  glad  to  sa}'^.  There  are  some  sober  and  industrious  men 
here  who  are  out  of  employment,  but  the  number  is  no  greater  than  it  is  in 
the  Eastern  States  where  Chinese  competition  has  not  yet  made  its  appearance. 


68  THE     CHINESE     QUESTION. 


Do  you  wonder,  reader,  that  the  Chinese  have  no  desire  to  become  Amen- 
can  citizens  ?  During  the  early  settlement  of  the  State  by  the  miners,  their 
citizennhip  wab  nol  thought  a  matter  of  necessity.  Mr.  Burlingame  finally 
urged  upon  our  people  the  necessity  ol"  commercial  relations  with  China,  that 
would  give  us  an  advantage  with  and  among  that  people  such  as  we  could 
not  otherwise  pot^scss.  That  treaty  still  exists,  but  not  a  single  word  of 
encouragement  in  a  material  sense  can  be  found  that  would  weigh  an  ounce 
in  the  scale  of  justice  toward  preparing  the  Chinaman  for  our  American 
institutions.  Immigrants  from  other  nations  have  opportunities  of  knowing- 
something  about  our  people  and  our  government.  Most  all  of  them  can  read 
or  hear  read  in  their  native  tongue,  but  the  Chinese  have  not  this  advantage. 
Schools  are  bolted  against  them  and  private  educational  facilities  very  rare. 
If  a  teacher  of  a  private  school  admitted  them,  he  would  be  branded  as  a 
heathen  sympathiser,  and  would  lose  all  of  his  white  pupils.  Then  the  vile 
epithets  that  are  cast  into  their  teeth,  and  the  inevitable  vituperations  that 
are  incessantly  heaped  upon  them,  are  enough  to  arouse  the  indignation  of 
the  most  docile  among  them,  and  create  a  perfect  antipathy  against  their 
persecutors.  What  encouragement  have  they  had  for  the  last  three  years  ? 
Twice  did  the}^  appeal  to  the  Maj^or  of  San  Francisco  in  187()  for  protection 
from  a  threatened  outbreak  of  the  mob  upon  them.  The  matter  has  been 
getting  worse,  and  is  to  day  in  a  fearful  condition.  During  the  recent  cam- 
paign for  Governor  and  the  various  State  and  municipal  officers,  the  most 
unprincipled  remarks  were  made  by  the  three  parties  in  the  field  that  we 
ever  heard  of  during  any  previous  political  contest  in  the  history  of  our 
Republic.  The  new  Constitution  gave  the  text,  and  the  political  aspirants 
with  tew  exceptions  preached  a  regular  crusade  against  the  Asiatic  element 
in  California.  The  new  document  forbids  corporations  from  employing 
Chinamen  under  no  less  ))enaliy  than  to  have  their  charters  taken  away 
from  them.  Dr.  Huich  J.  Glenn,  the  candidate  of  the  new  Constitution  party 
for  Governo)'  of  this  State,  in  the  late  campaign,  said,  with  reference  to  the 
Chinese  clause  in  the  new  Constitution,  that  "The  sweeping  provisions  of  the 
new  Constitution  on  the  Chinese  close  vvith  the  declaration  that  such  pro- 
visions shall  be  enfored  by  '•appropriate  legidafiou,."  ''  "Depend  upon  it," 
said  he,  "that  if  I  am  Governor,  such  legislation  shall  never  be  vetoed." 
Dr.  Kalloch,  the  newly  elected  Mayor  of  San  Francisco,  says,  concerning 
the  same  mattei-,  "  I  shall  deem  it  my  dut}^  to  see  that  this  provision  of  the 
Constitution  is  respected."  Talk  about  Chinamen  desiring  to  become  citi- 
zens under  such  circumstances  ! 

But  we  are  met  again  by  the  argument  that  they  are  a  filthy  race,  and 
that  they  encourage  liuman  slavery,  and  Iceep  opiunj  dens,  and  lead  many  of 
our  youths  into  their  gambling  houses,  and  are  the  means  of  destroying  our 
young  men.  We  admit  it ;  but  have  you  never  read  that  some  years  ago  in 
the  City  of  San  Francisco,  when  the  authorities  had  succeeded  in  loading  a  shi[) 
with  ihe  low,  lewd  class,  and  were  about  to  ship  them  back  to  China,  that  a 
white  hireling  reversed  the  order  of  the  Court,  and  they  wore  brought  back 
again.  That  kind  of  talk  sounds  a  little  like  Fnglish  CJhinese  haters  cursing 
Chinamen  for  using  opium  after  they  had  forced  them  to  take  it  in  exchange 
for  a  more  valuable  commercial  production.  But  while  we  are  hearing  testi- 
mony concerning  this  matter,  let  us  learn  Bomething  more  appalling.  We 
refer  to  the  inhuman  slavery  that  exists  among  the  whites — to  traveling 
agents  leading  young  men  and  virtuous  girls  into  places  of  corruption, 
liave  you  noticed  the  police  news  in  any  of  the  large  cities  in  this  State  for 
one  8in«-le  week  ?  Compare  also  the  tobacco  and  whisky  dens  of  San  Fran- 
cisco o^  Sacramento  to  the  Chinese  dens,  and  then  give  in  your  testimony. 
Among  those  engaged  in  the  low,  licentious  business  of  destroying  the  inno- 


THE     CHINESE     QUESTION.  63 


cent  and  virLuous  in  these  cities  are  natives  of  Ireland,  of  France,  of  Eng- 
land, of  Mexico,  of  China,  and  also  Africans,  and  quite  a  large  per  cent  are 
Americans.  Shall  we  now  pass  by  all  of  these  equally  guilty,  and  in  many 
instances  even  i.iore  guilty  than  the  Cbine.se,  and  drive  them  out  because 
they  can  underbid  the  whites  and  in  some  of  these  things  are  ruining  our 
young  people?  VV^hy  not  legislate  against  vice  and  immorality  wherever 
it  is  found?  And  if  any  class  must  be  dealt  with  as  an  exam[)le  to  others, 
let  that  class  be  American  citizens. 

We  otfered  to  help  the  reader  out  on  the  matter  of  an  increase  of  Asiatics 
among  us  if  he  would  follo^v  us  through  our  arguments,  and  will  now  give 
our  views  with  regard  to  the  whole  matter.  Here  they  are  :  T hat  if  the 
State  of  Galifonii.a  v}ill  ^^^w^'  a  law  fovbiddliig^  ,/i>'st,  all  sales  of  intoxicating 
liquors  as  a  beoerage.  /Second,  All  licentious  literature  and  portraiture.  Third., 
All  houses  kept  for  unchaste  pwposes.,  and  also  pre^ient  the  shameful  theaters 
and  plays  that  only  serve  to  feed  the  passions  and  bring  into  demand  the  natural 
concomitants  of  such  loio  immoralities.,  im  will  soon  have  relief 

California  spends  more  money  for  liquors  every  year  than  it  would  take  to 
feed  and  clothe  all  the  poor  among  them.  The  pleasure  seekers  spend  enough 
frequently  in  a  single  gala  day  and  night  in  Sacramento  to  clothe  all  of  the 
destitute  in  the  city,  and  keep  them  in  tood  for  one  month.  Notice  the  mas- 
querade balls,  the  theaters  and  matinees,  the  receptions  and  ovations,  and 
the  private  and  select  parties,  the  lotteries  and  prize  entertainments,  the 
excursions  and  picnics  and  festivals.  Add  to  it  the  smoking  and  chewing  of 
tobacco  and  the  enormous  expenditure  for  liquor,  and  you  have  the  causes 
of  our  hard  times.  The  New  York  Evening  Post  says  that  in  1870  California 
spent  for  liquors  alone  the  enormous  sum  of  ^59,924,080.  With  such  a  sum 
nine  years  ago,  is  it  a  wonder  that  the  State  is  to  day  suffering  from  the 
increased  sales  of  liquor,  and  the  corresponding  increase  in  crime,  in  misery, 
and  in  degradation  ?  Oh  !  what  shall  the  the  harvest  be?  In  recent  official 
statistics  it  was  shown  that  the  liquor  traffic  cost  the  United  States,  above  all 
income,  revenue,  license,  etc.,  the  astounding  sum  of  11,150,000,000  annually. 
California  is  not  behind  in  her  proportion  of  this  national  curse.  Look  at  the 
taxes  you  pay.  See  the  alms  houses,  the  jails,  and  the  penitentiaries.  Notice 
the  lawyers,  the  Judges,  the  juries,  the  witnesses,  the  sheriffs,  and  constables, 
and  the  police  departments,  and  you  will  see  whj'  the  times  are  so  hard. 
Do  you  know  that  seventj'^-eight  per  cent  of  all  crime  is  directly  attributable 
to  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors?  Hear  the  language  of  Isaiah,  xxviii, 
7,8: 

"  But  they  also  have  erred  throu>;h  wine,  and  through  strong  drink  arc  out  of  the  way.  The 
prie.sts  and  the  prophets  have  erred  through  strong  drink  ;  they  are  swallowed  up  of  wine  ;  they  are 
out  of  the  way  through  strong  drink  ;  they  err  in  vision  ;  they  .stumble  in  judgment. 

"  For  all  tables  arc  ful!  of  vomit  and  filthiness  so  that  there  i.s  no  place  clean." 

But  again  :  The  Chinese  have  a  right  here  from  every  construction  of  our 
law,  whether  it  be  argued  from  the  Federal,  the  State,  or  the  Municipal  Codes. 
The  Federal  Government  encourages  immigration  to  our  shores,  and  do  by 
the  very  construction  of  the  law  relating  to  them,  encourage  all  who  come. 
In  President  Grant's  message  to  the  iid  Congress,  he  desired  "further  legis 
lation  upon  the  abuses  to  immigrants."  The  State  Legislature  has  no  right 
to  change  or  establish  any  law  made  by  the  Federal  Congress,  and  no  muni- 
cipal authorities  have  the  right  to  deprive  an}'  person  or  number  of  persons 
of  life,  liberty,  property,  and  the  lawful  pursuits  of  happiness. 

Who  shall  forbid  A,  B,  and  C  from  cmplojdng  (Jhinamen  ?  By  what  law,  and 
ho  ■  ?  By  what  judicial  act  vvill  punishment  be  influenced  ?  Law  "  encourages 
what  is  right  and  prohibits  what  is  wrong."  It  is  perfectly  right  for  A,  and  B, 
and  C  to  incorporate  and  receive  a  charte«*  from  the  State  to  protect  them  in 


64  THE     CHINESE     QUESTION. 


their  bueinesB.  That  is  according  to  law.  They  now  go  to  work  and  employ  a 
number  of  men  by  a  personal  contract  agreed  upon  by  the  firm  and  the  men 
whom  they  emploj'ed,  which,  also,  is  according  to  law.  The  next  day  they 
(the  firm)  are  brought  before  the  Court  to  answer  to  a  chai'ge  brought 
against  them  for  having  five  Chinamen  in  their  employ.  They  reply  that 
the  charge  is  correct,  and  that  they  emplo^^ed  twenty  five  men.  Five  of 
them  were  negroes,  five  were  iiMHh,  five  Englitshmen,  five  Americans,  and  five 
Chinamen.  '1  hat's  all.  1  he  Judge  orders  the  Secretary  of  State  to  cancel  the 
charier,  and  inJbrm  the  fiim  of  A,  B,  and  C  accordingly.  What  now  ?  ^Vhy 
the  film  goes  I'ight  along,  the  Chinamen  are  not  discharged' — the  charter  does 
not  affect  them.  There  are  scores  of  firms  doing  business  in  ihis  State  with- 
out a  charter.  The  only  benefit  of  a  charier  is  that  it  gives  a  firm  ^-corpo- 
rate powevfi  to  more  efficiently  peifor/n  and  earn/  out'''  their  business  transac- 
tions, it  law  "prohibits  what  is  wrong  and  encourages  what  is  right,"  it  is 
the  only  absolutely  necessary  "guarantee"  any  firm  needs,  and  is  the  magna 
charta  to  all  "rights  and  privileges."  If  the  employer  and  the  emploj'ed  are 
interfered  with,  ihey  have  the  right  to  ask  to  be  protected  by  the  municipal 
authorities,  and  it  they  refuse  or  are  unable  to  protect  them,  they  may 
appeal  to  the  Executive  of  the  State,  and  may  also  collect  from  the  State  or 
county  all  damages  or  losses  sustained  in  case  of  an  interference  by  the  mob. 
The  Supreme  Court  has  just  decided  that  Alleghany  C^ount}^  must  pay  the 
losses  tliat  occurred  in  Pittsburg  during  the  riots  in  1877.  Judge  Paxton, 
who  rendered  the  decision,  observed  :  "The  law  will  not  tolerate  the  spec- 
tacle of  a  great  city  looking  on  with  indifference  while  property  to  the  value 
of  millions  is  being  destroyetl  by  a  mob." 

When  the  coal  miners  near  Massillon,  Ohio,  struck  for  higher  wages  during 
the  same  year,  and  were  informed  that  they  could  not  expect  under  existing 
circumsiances  to  have  the  price  of  mining  raised,  they  sent  back  word  that 
they  would  not  work  unless  their  figures  were  respected.  What  did  the  em- 
ployers do  but  employ  a  band  of  men  who  offered  to  work  for  the  rejected 
prices.  But  when  they  came  to  the  mines  they  found  them  guarded  by  the 
strikers,  who  were  armed  with  picks  and  shovels,  and  some  of  them  with 
knives  and  revolvers.  The  reader  is  no  doubt  acquainted  with  the  bloody 
scenes  that  followed.  The  employers  appealed  fur  help.  They  had  entered 
into  contracts  to  supply  large  manufactories  and  iron  works,  and  could  not 
afford  to  pay  more  than  they  were  paying  at  the  time  the  contracts  were 
made.  But  the  miners  were  going  to  show  them  that  they  had  rights,  and 
were  going  to  "teach  the  big  bugs  a  lesson  that  would  do  them  good.''  '['he 
sheriti"  with  an  armed  posse  hastened  to  the  mines,  but  could  not  suppress  the 
rioters.  An  appeal  was  made  to  the  (Governor,  who  dispatched  a  company  of 
soldiers  to  the  seat  of  war,  with  orders  to  protect  the  men  who  wei'e  last 
employed.  The  "  l)ig  bugs"  did  learn  a  lesson,  and  some  of  their  obstinate 
teachers  caught  the  idea  ihat  the  '•  bugs  "  were  not  of  the  order  of  Coleoptera 
nor  descended  trom  the  JScarabmus  family.  The  Slate  must  protect  her 
industries;  if  she  does  not,  she  becomes  responsible  for  allowing  her  own 
resources  to  be  choked  up,  and  her  public  enterprises  in  the  hands  or  her 
citizens  to  be  destroyed. 

Let  it  be  borne  in  mind  that,  in  the  language  of  Dr.  M.  f  •.  Mriggs,  in  his 
"introduction"  to  Kev.  O.  Gibson's  book,  entitled  "The  Chinese  in  America," 
we  -'virtually  forced  the  treaty  upon  the  Chinese  (iovernment  for  our  own 
advantage  "  Shall  we  now,  since  we  have  used  the  p^or,  laboring  classes,  and 
can  no  longer  endure  their  habits  of  induHtry  and  economy,  allow  a  foreign 
banditti  to  drive  them  from  their  homes  and  trom  their  workshops  and  their 
various  industrial  puisiiiis,  and  in  their  stead  increase  the  army  of  whisky 
drinkerS;  of  tramps,  and  of  professional  hoodlums?     We  are  sick  and  tired 


THE     CHINESE     QUESTION.  65 


of  the  unkind,  and  certainly  very  inconsistent  treatment  given  these  poor, 
terror  stricken  creatures  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  3  contemplated 
law.  We  distinctly  remember  the  abuse  the  negroes  of  the  South  received 
from  some  of  these  race  haters.  They  were  branded  as  mere  brutes  ;  had 
no  souls  ;  never  could  become  citizens  ;  would  overrun  the  North,  and  take 
the.  bread  out  of  the  mouths  of  poor  families — thej'  had  better  be  colonized 
or  sent  back  to  Africa.  Tlie  negroes  must  go.  "iVo  niggers  need  apply?''  The 
writer  was  then  in  the  service  of  the  Tnited  States,  and  stood  ready  to  pro- 
tect the  poor,  down-trodden  African  ;  although  in  many  quarters  alter  his 
return  home,  his  sympathy  for  the  oppressed  was  exceedingly  distasteful.. 
We  also  faintly  remember  when  the  cry  rang  out,  "  No  Irish  need  apply." 
They  said  the  country  was  overrun  with  them,  and  we  would  soon  be  swal- 
lowed up  by  them.  VV^cll,  some  were  swallowed,  but  like  Jonah,  have 
escaped  being  digested,  and  to  our  utter  astonishment  are  gathering  at  the 
wharf  ready  to  be  swallowed  again. 

Men  of  law,  men  of  sense,  men  of  reason  :  What  do  you  mean  ?  Have! 
you  lost  every  spark  of  humanity  that  throbs  in  the  breasts  of  a  free  man  ? 
Call  to  your  minds  the  check  President  Grant  gave  naturalized  American 
citizens  during  the  Fenian  irruption  in  1869.  Look  again  at  the  final- 
adjustment  of  the  "Alabama  Claims"  between  England  and  America,  and 
the  final  settlement  of  the  "  P'isliermen's  Rights,"  and  the  "Navigation  of  the 
Great  Lakes  and  other  navigable  waters  lying  within  the  territory  ot  either 
government;"  and  also  the  location  of  the  "San  Juan  boundary."  Examine 
the  "law  of  nations,"  and  look  up  several  precedents  where  the  diplomacy 
of  nations  have  been  vexed,  and  settlements  made  b^^  joint  IJigh  Commis- 
sions appointed  by  the  nations  at  issue.  Shall  we  deviate  from  the  right? 
Shall  we  be  led  by  the  mob  or  by  the  defen<lers  of  our  liberties  ?  Some  one 
answers:  "The  voters  of  California  settled  the  Chinese  question  at  the 
recent  election."  No,  sir  ;  they  did  not  settle  it — they  only  expressed  Vkn.. 
opini<m.  The  question  must  be  settled  by  the  Federal  Government.  Sup- 
pose that  the  Southern  States  had  voted  for  or  against  negro  slavery  a  few 
months  after  the  Emancipation  Proclamation  of  President  Lincoln,  and  had 
as  great  a  majority  favoring  slavery  as  California  had  in  the  recent  elcctioQ 
against  Chinese  immigi'ation,  what  change  would  have  been  effected  ?  Not 
any.  We  are  met  again  with  the  argument  that  public  opinion  when  in  the 
majority  ought  to  be  respected.  Suppose  we  had  allowed  majority  claims 
to  have  settled  the  slavery  question,  what  then  ?  Or  if  you  are  going  to 
make  a  State  question  of  it — which  is  unconstitutional — please  give  the 
oppressed  Mongolian  a  voice,  after  that  announce  the  results.  If  that  seems-- 
out  of  place,  then  make  a  diplomatic  question  of  it  at  once,  and  submit  ife 
at  once  and  submit  it  to  proper  parties  for  final  adjustment.  Remember 
when  we  come  to  law,  desiring  to  make  a  law  question  of  it,  we  need  to  be 
careful.  If  we  have  a  precedent,  and  it  is  a  just  one,  we  can  afi'ord  to  act 
again,  all  other  things  being  equal  ;  but  if  we  are  now  to  establish  n  prece- 
dent for  future  action,  let  us  be  certain  that  we  respect  our  yea  an<l  our  n<iy 
when  analagous  cases  are  to  be  decided.  George  Washington  said  in  his 
farewell  address  what  may  serve  to  help  us  in  adjusting  the  matter  that  is 
now  agitating  the  public  mind.     The  language  seenis  inspired. 

"Excessive  partiality  for  one  foreign  nation  and  excessive  dislike  for 
another  cause  those  whom  they  actuate  to  see  danger  onK'  on  one  side,  and 
serve  to  veil  and  even  second  the  arts  of  influence  on  the  other.  Keal  patriots 
who  may  resi.st  the  intrigues  of  the  favorite,  are  liable  to  become  suspected 
and  odious,  while  its  toils  and  dupes  usurp  the  applause  and  confidence  of 
the  people  to  surrender  their  interests." 

There  is  one  more  consideration  that  we- shall  now  take  time  to  speak  of 


66  THE     CHINESE    QUESTION. 


and  then  bring  this  article  to  a  close,  and  that  consideration  is  more  directly 
tio  be  viewed  bj^  the  Christian  coinimuiiLj  and  from  a  Chri^^tian  standpoint. 
It  is  this  : 

T/ie  Chinese  are  here  in  the  proindence  of  God,  and  it  in  our  imperative  duty 
to  both  educate  and  Christianize  those.irho  ari>  noir  at  our  door.  The  population 
of  the  globe  is  estitnated  at  1,M8, 145,300,  and  of  this  number  7,1>31,080  are 
Jews,  1*86,860,076  arc  Roman  Catholics,  82,926,049  arc  of  the  (xreek  Church, 
l.Hl,091,941  are  Protestants,  10^.45:5,594  are  Mohammedans,  1,007,190  are 
Jlajians  and  Parsees,  and  485,015,475  are  Buddhists,  religions  of  the  Bast 
^nd  Pagans.     Four  hundred  millions  of  the  last  named  are  Chinese. 

The  Jews  are  a  separate  people,  and  are  looked  to  as  a  peculiar  people 
tfitill.  No  one  seems  to  be  particularly  concerned  for  them  in  America  from 
^he  consideration  that  their  destiny,  both  present  anel  future,  is  thought  to 
be  a  matter  of  prophetic  prediction.  The  Catholics  are  earnestly  at  work  to 
bring  the  world  to  acknowledge  supremacy  to  the  Pope,  and  arc  no  real 
■encouragement  to  the  work  of  bringing  the  Chinese  from  their  idolatry  from 
the  fact  that  the  Chinaman  cannot  see  why  his  wooden  images  and  Deity  por- 
traitures are  not  as  virtuous  and  as  efficacious  to  save  as  the  plaster  of  Paris 
images  and  the  paintings  of  the  saints  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  The  same 
will  nearly  apply  to  the  Greek  Church.  The  remainder  are  heathen,  except- 
ing the  Protestants  named,  who  in  the  providence  of  God  are  lo  evangelize 
the  whole  world.  If  the  reader  will  turn  to  the  history  of  missions  since 
the  Reformation,  he  will  find  that  a  majority  of  the  most  successful  missions 
ever  projected  originated  in  America.  This  land  of  freedom  has  originated 
.and  projected  under  the  protection  of  the  broad  banner  of  the  tree  a  system 
of  evangelizing  the  world  that  is  the  greatest  philanthropic  and  moral  move- 
;«nent  of  history.  Their  facilities  have  been  of  a  threefold  character.  First, 
They  went  to  the  homes  of  the  heathen  in  their  own  land  and  taught  them 
the  wa}'  ot  life.  Second,  The  heathen  have  come  to  our  shores  and  have 
Jearned  of  our  civilization  and  imbibed  our  religion  ;  and,  third.  Many  were 
converted  and  have  gone  back  to  teach  their  kinsfolks  what  gi'eat  things 
the  Lord  has  done  for  them.  If  our  civilization  was  what  it  ought  to  be, 
every  Chinaman  who  came  here  would  be  a  living  witness  of  the  magic 
power  and  influence  of  truth  in  practice,  and  would  serve  the  place  of  a 
missionary  to  his  people  We  must  not  be  daunted  by  sneerers  right  here.' 
It  is  our  duty  to  go  forward  and  attend  to  this  work  at  once.  There  is  no 
time  to  be  lost.  Fame's  fair  fingers  may  never  weave  a  laurel  for^our  brow. 
We  may  hear  curses  and  be  abused,  but  we  are  to  "go  forth,"  and  toil  in 
the  field,  and  when  we  have  done  our  whole  duty,  the  vesper  star  at  the 
■sunset  of  our  life  will  set  to  us  radiated  with  the  glory  of  Jesus's  righteousness. 

"Christ  for  thf  world   we  sing; 
The  world  to  Christ  we  hrinjj. 

With  one  iici-ord : 
With   us  the  work  to  shiirc. 
With  us  reproach  to  dure, 
With  u?  tho  cross  to  bear, 

For  Christ  our  Lord. 
'■Chri,-it  for  the  world  we  sing; 
The  world  to  t'hrist  we  bring, 

With  .joyful  song  : 
The  new-born   souls,  whose  days, 
Rcclaimeii  from  crror'.s  W!iy.<, 
Inspired  with  hope  and  praise, 

To  Christ   belong." 

Many  of  the  missions  in  Europe  trace  their  origin  to  missionary  otforts 
put  forth  in  our  missions.  We  have  several  in  mind  now— one  in  Germany. 
The  inis.iionary  was  converted  in  this  country,  and  desired  to  go  h;ici:  to  his 
own   house  to  tell  of  Jesus.     Already  numerous  missions  nre  established  in 


THE     CHINESE     QUESTION.  67 

China,  and  unexpected  success  gi'eet  their  eflforts  everywhere.  God  is  work- 
ing among  llie  people.  Spain  has  just  opened  her  doors  to  China;  the 
nations  of  the  earth  are  seeking  to  have  commercial  intercourse  wiih  her; 
her  ports  are  crowded  with  the  ships  bearing  tiie  flags  of  neighboring 
nations;  her  interior  is  becoming  organized  into  missionary  districts,  and 
the  heralds  of  the  cross,  encouraged  by  the  indications  of  the  present  and 
the  triumphs  of  the  past,  are  pressing  the  battle  to  the  very  gales  of  the 
enemy.  With  the  great  and  good  work  among  this  people  in  their  native 
land,  and  an  untiring  effort  to  win  those  to  ('hrist  who  are  now  in  America, 
will,  in  the  course  of  time,  bring  four  hundred  millions  to  the  cross  of  Christ, 
and  so  change  the  pagan  idolatry  of  Asia  as  to  bring  about  the  complete 
overthrow  of  their  false  and  pernicious  sj'stem  of  a  fabulous  and  legendarj'' 
religion.  Shall  we  say  that  we  are  willing  to  work  in  China,  but  not  here  ? 
The  cry  here  is,  "The  Chinese  must  go."  If  the  irrevocable  mandate  is 
that  the}^  must  go,  let  us  send  them  with  a  little  better  opinion  of  our  civil- 
ization than  some  of  them  now  liave. 

The  follovving  language  occurs  in  a  j^amphlct  now  before  us,  entitled 
"Labor  iieform  :"  "Far  better  to  send  them  [the  Chinamen]  soul  and  body 
to  hell  than  to  drive  the  Anglo  Saxon  race  Irom  their  homes  to  seek  shelter 
of  paupers  in  some  other  portion  of  the  earth."  O,  what  language  this,  to 
be  made  by  a  party  who  claimed  to  be  poor,  and  who  seek  sympathy  and 
protection.  Has  it  come  to  this  that  one  nation  must  be  lost,  soul  and 
body  "sent  to  hell,"  to  give  another  a  place  they  so  little  deserve  ?  "God 
hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of 
the  earth  ;  and  hath  determined  the  times  before  appointed,  and  the  bounds 
of  their  habitation."  Compare  this  Scripture  with. the  language  above,  and 
you  will  evidently  see  the  spirit  that  characterized  the  former.  In  the  ninth 
chapter  of  Genesis  this  wonderful  and  very  significant  language  occurs  : 
"God  shall  enlarge  Japheth,  and  he  shall  dvvell  in  the  tents  of  Shem,  and 
Canaan  shall  be  his  servant."  But  hear  how  that  text  is  read  to-day  by 
some  exalted  Caucasian  who  has  given  it  a  different  translation:  "Shem 
will  now  have  to  serve  Japheth,  and  Canaan  dwell  where  he  pleases." 
There  were  about  as  many  Gentiles  in  Palastine  when  Solomon  was  about  to 
build  the  temple  as  there  are  Chinese  in  California,  and  history  records  the 
fact  that  they  were  employed  in  hewing  timlier  for  the  temple,  and  prepar- 
ing various  materials  for  its  construction.  Solomon  was  particular  to  num- 
ber "all  the  strangers  that  were  in  the  land,"  "and  he  set  them  all  to  work," 
and  at  the  dedication  of  the  temple  praj-ed  unto  the  Lord  to  hear  and  pro- 
tect the  stranger.  Shall  wo  read  ?  "Also  thou  shalt  not  vex  a  stranger  nor 
oppress  him."  Exodus,  xxii,  21  ;  xxiii,  9,  embraced.  "  But  the  stranger  that 
dvvellcth  with  you  shall  be  as  one  born  among  you,  and  thou  shalt  love  him 
as  thyself;  for  ye  were  strangers  in  the  land  of  Egypt."  Leviticus,  xix,  84. 
Search  parallel  passages  antl  learn  how  God  arranged  to  bring  the  heathen 
to  view  the  land  of  civilization  and  of  religion.  Solomon  said  in  praj'er 
before  the  vast  multitude  at  the  dedication  of  the  temple,  "Moreover,  con- 
cerning the  stranger,  that  is  not  of  thy  people  Israel,  but  cometh  out  of  a 
far  country  for  thy  name's  sake,  (tor  they  shall  hear  of  thy  great  name,  and 
of  thy  strong  hand,  and  of  thy  outstretched  arm.)  AVhen  he  shall  come 
and  pray  toward  this  house,  hoar  thou  out  of  heaven  thy  dwelling  place, 
and  do  according  to  all  that  the  stranger  calleth  to  thee  for,  that  all  the 
people  of  I  he  earth  may  know  thy  name  to  fear  thee  as  do  th}'  people  Israel." 

Let  us  think  before  we  act,  and  act  for  the  glory  of  God. 

"Shall   wo  who.se  souls  are  lighted, 
With  wisdom  from  od   high — 
Shall  we  to  souls  lienigbted, 
The  Lump  of  light  deny?" 


I>K,  McNEAL'S  CELEBRATED 

Pain   .exterminator! 

I  have  used  this  uiudiciiie  lor  above  twenty 
years,  and  am  able  to  recoinuieiid  it  to  the  pub- 
lic as  a  safe  and  RELIABLE  article.  "In  cases  of 
Flux,  Dysentery,  Colic,  Cholera  Morbus,  Ague, 
Croup,  Lung  Fever,  and  various  kinds  of  Sore 
Throat,  Corns  etc.,  it  is  excellent." 

Geo.  VV.  Burtner,  of  Woodbridge,  Cal.,  lias  se- 
cured the  right  of  manufacturing  the  medicine  in 
this  State,    and   is    now   prepared    to   supply   the 

public.  PRICE  50  CENTS  PER  BOTTLE. 

A  liberal  discount  to  those  who  buy  to  sell 
again. 

.Address,  Geo.  W.  Burtner, 

Woodbridge,  San  Joaquui  Co.,  Cal. 


The  following  testimonial  sbould  be 
known  to  till  who  suffer  from  the  many 
ills  to  which  the  flesh  is  heir  : 

Geo.  W.  Burtner,  Esq. — Dear  Sir  : 
About  four  months  ago  I  was  provi- 
dentially given  a  small  portion  of  your 
Pain  Exterminator  to  try  on  general 
principles.  A  short  trial  of  it  con- 
vinced me  that  a  specific  use  would  be 
better  adapted  to  my  case — chronic  ca- 
tarrh and  bronchitis.  My  cough  was, 
excessive  and  very  distressing.  After 
a  few  days'  use  according  to  directions 
my  cough  began  to  diminish,  the  ex- 
cessive irritation  of  the  trachea  ceased 
altogether,  and  now,  after  using  two 
bottles,  my  general  health  is  better 
than  it  has  been  since  I  contracted  the 
above  diseases.  I  wish  you  to  send  me 
twelve  bottles  more,  which  1  will  dis- 
tribute among  my  friends,  believing  so 
good  a  medicine  should  become  widely 
known.  C.   W.  Clarke. 

Handford,  Tulare  County,  Cal. 


H.  A.  WEAVER, 


^ 


91   J  STREET.      -     -      SACRAMENTO. 


EVERY  description  of  Book  and  Job  Printing 
done  with  neatness  and  dispatch. 


LA  W  AND  COMMERCIAL   I'RIXTING. 


LOCATED     AT 


For  any  Particulars  concerning  the  School. 
WOODBRIDGE,  CAL 


BX9878.4  .B39 

History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ 

Princeton  Theological  Semmary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00044  6825 


'^h-^..Wfl 


